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<section id="preamble">

<h1>The Tragedy of Titus Andronicus</h1>

<section id="dramatis-personae"><h2>Dramatis Personae</h2>

<ol class="persona-group">
  <li>SATURNINUS, son to the late Emperor of Rome, and afterwards declared Emperor.</li>
  <li>BASSIANUS, brother to Saturninus; in love with Lavinia.</li>
  <li>TITUS ANDRONICUS, a noble Roman, general against the Goths.</li>
  <li>MARCUS ANDRONICUS, tribune of the people, and brother to Titus.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="persona-group" data-description="sons to Titus Andronicus.">
  <li>LUCIUS</li>
  <li>QUINTUS</li>
  <li>MARTIUS</li>
  <li>MUTIUS</li>
</ol>

<ol class="persona-group">
  <li>Young LUCIUS, a boy, son to Lucius.</li>
  <li>PUBLIUS, son to Marcus the Tribune.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="persona-group" data-description="kinsmen to Titus.">
  <li>SEMPRONIUS</li>
  <li>CAIUS</li>
  <li>VALENTINE</li>
</ol>

<ol class="persona-group">
  <li>AEMILIUS, a noble Roman.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="persona-group" data-description="sons to Tamora.">
  <li>ALARBUS</li>
  <li>DEMETRIUS</li>
  <li>CHIRON</li>
</ol>

<ol class="persona-group">
  <li>AARON, a Moor, beloved by Tamora.</li>
  <li>A Captain, Tribune, Messenger, and Clown; Romans.</li>
  <li>Goths and Romans.</li>
  <li>TAMORA, Queen of the Goths.</li>
  <li>LAVINIA, daughter of Titus Andronicus.</li>
  <li>A Nurse. </li>
  <li>Senators, Tribunes, Officers, Soldiers, anAttendants.</li>
</ol>

</section>

<div id="scene-description">SCENE  Rome, and the country near it.</div>

</section>

<section class="act">

<h2>ACT I</h2>

<section class="scene">

<h3>SCENE I.  Rome. Before the Capitol.</h3>

<div class="stage-direction">The Tomb of the ANDRONICI appearing; the Tribunes
and Senators aloft. Enter, below, from one side,
SATURNINUS and his Followers; and, from the other
side, BASSIANUS and his Followers; with drum and colours</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">SATURNINUS</li>
  <li>Noble patricians, patrons of my right,</li>
  <li>Defend the justice of my cause with arms,</li>
  <li>And, countrymen, my loving followers,</li>
  <li>Plead my successive title with your swords:</li>
  <li class="number">I am his first-born son, that was the last</li>
  <li>That wore the imperial diadem of Rome;</li>
  <li>Then let my father's honours live in me,</li>
  <li>Nor wrong mine age with this indignity.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BASSIANUS</li>
  <li>Romans, friends, followers, favorers of my right,</li>
  <li class="number">If ever Bassianus, Caesar's son,</li>
  <li>Were gracious in the eyes of royal Rome,</li>
  <li>Keep then this passage to the Capitol</li>
  <li>And suffer not dishonour to approach</li>
  <li>The imperial seat, to virtue consecrate,</li>
  <li class="number">To justice, continence and nobility;</li>
  <li>But let desert in pure election shine,</li>
  <li>And, Romans, fight for freedom in your choice.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Enter MARCUS ANDRONICUS, aloft, with the crown</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MARCUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>Princes, that strive by factions and by friends</li>
  <li>Ambitiously for rule and empery,</li>
  <li class="number">Know that the people of Rome, for whom we stand</li>
  <li>A special party, have, by common voice,</li>
  <li>In election for the Roman empery,</li>
  <li>Chosen Andronicus, surnamed Pius</li>
  <li>For many good and great deserts to Rome:</li>
  <li class="number">A nobler man, a braver warrior,</li>
  <li>Lives not this day within the city walls:</li>
  <li>He by the senate is accit'd home</li>
  <li>From weary wars against the barbarous Goths;</li>
  <li>That, with his sons, a terror to our foes,</li>
  <li class="number">Hath yoked a nation strong, train'd up in arms.</li>
  <li>Ten years are spent since first he undertook</li>
  <li>This cause of Rome and chastised with arms</li>
  <li>Our enemies' pride: five times he hath return'd</li>
  <li>Bleeding to Rome, bearing his valiant sons</li>
  <li class="number">In coffins from the field;</li>
  <li>And now at last, laden with horror's spoils,</li>
  <li>Returns the good Andronicus to Rome,</li>
  <li>Renowned Titus, flourishing in arms.</li>
  <li>Let us entreat, by honour of his name,</li>
  <li class="number">Whom worthily you would have now succeed.</li>
  <li>And in the Capitol and senate's right,</li>
  <li>Whom you pretend to honour and adore,</li>
  <li>That you withdraw you and abate your strength;</li>
  <li>Dismiss your followers and, as suitors should,</li>
  <li class="number">Plead your deserts in peace and humbleness.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">SATURNINUS</li>
  <li>How fair the tribune speaks to calm my thoughts!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BASSIANUS</li>
  <li>Marcus Andronicus, so I do ally</li>
  <li>In thy uprightness and integrity,</li>
  <li>And so I love and honour thee and thine,</li>
  <li class="number">Thy noble brother Titus and his sons,</li>
  <li>And her to whom my thoughts are humbled all,</li>
  <li>Gracious Lavinia, Rome's rich ornament,</li>
  <li>That I will here dismiss my loving friends,</li>
  <li>And to my fortunes and the people's favor</li>
  <li class="number">Commit my cause in balance to be weigh'd.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Exeunt the followers of BASSIANUS</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">SATURNINUS</li>
  <li>Friends, that have been thus forward in my right,</li>
  <li>I thank you all and here dismiss you all,</li>
  <li>And to the love and favor of my country</li>
  <li>Commit myself, my person and the cause.</li>
  <li class="stage-direction">Exeunt the followers of SATURNINUS</li>
  <li class="number">Rome, be as just and gracious unto me</li>
  <li>As I am confident and kind to thee.</li>
  <li>Open the gates, and let me in.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BASSIANUS</li>
  <li>Tribunes, and me, a poor competitor.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Flourish. SATURNINUS and BASSIANUS go up into the Capitol</div>

<div class="stage-direction">Enter a Captain</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">Captain</li>
  <li>Romans, make way: the good Andronicus.</li>
  <li class="number">Patron of virtue, Rome's best champion,</li>
  <li>Successful in the battles that he fights,</li>
  <li>With honour and with fortune is return'd</li>
  <li>From where he circumscribed with his sword,</li>
  <li>And brought to yoke, the enemies of Rome.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Drums and trumpets sounded. Enter MARTIUS and
MUTIUS; After them, two Men bearing a coffin
covered with black; then LUCIUS and QUINTUS. After
them, TITUS ANDRONICUS; and then TAMORA, with
ALARBUS, DEMETRIUS, CHIRON, AARON, and other Goths,
prisoners; Soldiers and people following. The
Bearers set down the coffin, and TITUS speaks</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li class="number">Hail, Rome, victorious in thy mourning weeds!</li>
  <li>Lo, as the bark, that hath discharged her fraught,</li>
  <li>Returns with precious jading to the bay</li>
  <li>From whence at first she weigh'd her anchorage,</li>
  <li>Cometh Andronicus, bound with laurel boughs,</li>
  <li class="number">To re-salute his country with his tears,</li>
  <li>Tears of true joy for his return to Rome.</li>
  <li>Thou great defender of this Capitol,</li>
  <li>Stand gracious to the rites that we intend!</li>
  <li>Romans, of five and twenty valiant sons,</li>
  <li class="number">Half of the number that King Priam had,</li>
  <li>Behold the poor remains, alive and dead!</li>
  <li>These that survive let Rome reward with love;</li>
  <li>These that I bring unto their latest home,</li>
  <li>With burial amongst their ancestors:</li>
  <li class="number">Here Goths have given me leave to sheathe my sword.</li>
  <li>Titus, unkind and careless of thine own,</li>
  <li>Why suffer'st thou thy sons, unburied yet,</li>
  <li>To hover on the dreadful shore of Styx?</li>
  <li>Make way to lay them by their brethren.</li>
  <li class="stage-direction">The tomb is opened</li>
  <li class="number">There greet in silence, as the dead are wont,</li>
  <li>And sleep in peace, slain in your country's wars!</li>
  <li>O sacred receptacle of my joys,</li>
  <li>Sweet cell of virtue and nobility,</li>
  <li>How many sons of mine hast thou in store,</li>
  <li class="number">That thou wilt never render to me more!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LUCIUS</li>
  <li>Give us the proudest prisoner of the Goths,</li>
  <li>That we may hew his limbs, and on a pile</li>
  <li>Ad manes fratrum sacrifice his flesh,</li>
  <li>Before this earthy prison of their bones;</li>
  <li class="number">That so the shadows be not unappeased,</li>
  <li>Nor we disturb'd with prodigies on earth.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>I give him you, the noblest that survives,</li>
  <li>The eldest son of this distressed queen.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TAMORA</li>
  <li>Stay, Roman brethren! Gracious conqueror,</li>
  <li class="number">Victorious Titus, rue the tears I shed,</li>
  <li>A mother's tears in passion for her son:</li>
  <li>And if thy sons were ever dear to thee,</li>
  <li>O, think my son to be as dear to me!</li>
  <li>Sufficeth not that we are brought to Rome,</li>
  <li class="number">To beautify thy triumphs and return,</li>
  <li>Captive to thee and to thy Roman yoke,</li>
  <li>But must my sons be slaughter'd in the streets,</li>
  <li>For valiant doings in their country's cause?</li>
  <li>O, if to fight for king and commonweal</li>
  <li class="number">Were piety in thine, it is in these.</li>
  <li>Andronicus, stain not thy tomb with blood:</li>
  <li>Wilt thou draw near the nature of the gods?</li>
  <li>Draw near them then in being merciful:</li>
  <li>Sweet mercy is nobility's true badge:</li>
  <li class="number">Thrice noble Titus, spare my first-born son.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>Patient yourself, madam, and pardon me.</li>
  <li>These are their brethren, whom you Goths beheld</li>
  <li>Alive and dead, and for their brethren slain</li>
  <li>Religiously they ask a sacrifice:</li>
  <li class="number">To this your son is mark'd, and die he must,</li>
  <li>To appease their groaning shadows that are gone.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LUCIUS</li>
  <li>Away with him! and make a fire straight;</li>
  <li>And with our swords, upon a pile of wood,</li>
  <li>Let's hew his limbs till they be clean consumed.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Exeunt LUCIUS, QUINTUS, MARTIUS, and MUTIUS, with ALARBUS</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TAMORA</li>
  <li class="number">O cruel, irreligious piety!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">CHIRON</li>
  <li>Was ever Scythia half so barbarous?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DEMETRIUS</li>
  <li>Oppose not Scythia to ambitious Rome.</li>
  <li>Alarbus goes to rest; and we survive</li>
  <li>To tremble under Titus' threatening looks.</li>
  <li class="number">Then, madam, stand resolved, but hope withal</li>
  <li>The self-same gods that arm'd the Queen of Troy</li>
  <li>With opportunity of sharp revenge</li>
  <li>Upon the Thracian tyrant in his tent,</li>
  <li>May favor Tamora, the Queen of Goths — </li>
  <li class="number">When Goths were Goths and Tamora was queen — </li>
  <li>To quit the bloody wrongs upon her foes.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Re-enter LUCIUS, QUINTUS, MARTIUS and MUTIUS, with
their swords bloody</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LUCIUS</li>
  <li>See, lord and father, how we have perform'd</li>
  <li>Our Roman rites: Alarbus' limbs are lopp'd,</li>
  <li>And entrails feed the sacrificing fire,</li>
  <li class="number">Whose smoke, like incense, doth perfume the sky.</li>
  <li>Remaineth nought, but to inter our brethren,</li>
  <li>And with loud 'larums welcome them to Rome.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>Let it be so; and let Andronicus</li>
  <li>Make this his latest farewell to their souls.</li>
  <li class="stage-direction">Trumpets sounded, and the coffin laid in the tomb</li>
  <li class="number">In peace and honour rest you here, my sons;</li>
  <li>Rome's readiest champions, repose you here in rest,</li>
  <li>Secure from worldly chances and mishaps!</li>
  <li>Here lurks no treason, here no envy swells,</li>
  <li>Here grow no damned grudges; here are no storms,</li>
  <li class="number">No noise, but silence and eternal sleep:</li>
  <li>In peace and honour rest you here, my sons!</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Enter LAVINIA</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LAVINIA</li>
  <li>In peace and honour live Lord Titus long;</li>
  <li>My noble lord and father, live in fame!</li>
  <li>Lo, at this tomb my tributary tears</li>
  <li class="number">I render, for my brethren's obsequies;</li>
  <li>And at thy feet I kneel, with tears of joy,</li>
  <li>Shed on the earth, for thy return to Rome:</li>
  <li>O, bless me here with thy victorious hand,</li>
  <li>Whose fortunes Rome's best citizens applaud!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li class="number">Kind Rome, that hast thus lovingly reserved</li>
  <li>The cordial of mine age to glad my heart!</li>
  <li>Lavinia, live; outlive thy father's days,</li>
  <li>And fame's eternal date, for virtue's praise!</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Enter, below, MARCUS ANDRONICUS and Tribunes;
re-enter SATURNINUS and BASSIANUS, attended</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MARCUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>Long live Lord Titus, my beloved brother,</li>
  <li class="number">Gracious triumpher in the eyes of Rome!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>Thanks, gentle tribune, noble brother Marcus.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MARCUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>And welcome, nephews, from successful wars,</li>
  <li>You that survive, and you that sleep in fame!</li>
  <li>Fair lords, your fortunes are alike in all,</li>
  <li class="number">That in your country's service drew your swords:</li>
  <li>But safer triumph is this funeral pomp,</li>
  <li>That hath aspired to Solon's happiness</li>
  <li>And triumphs over chance in honour's bed.</li>
  <li>Titus Andronicus, the people of Rome,</li>
  <li class="number">Whose friend in justice thou hast ever been,</li>
  <li>Send thee by me, their tribune and their trust,</li>
  <li>This palliament of white and spotless hue;</li>
  <li>And name thee in election for the empire,</li>
  <li>With these our late-deceased emperor's sons:</li>
  <li class="number">Be candidatus then, and put it on,</li>
  <li>And help to set a head on headless Rome.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>A better head her glorious body fits</li>
  <li>Than his that shakes for age and feebleness:</li>
  <li>What should I don this robe, and trouble you?</li>
  <li class="number">Be chosen with proclamations to-day,</li>
  <li>To-morrow yield up rule, resign my life,</li>
  <li>And set abroad new business for you all?</li>
  <li>Rome, I have been thy soldier forty years,</li>
  <li>And led my country's strength successfully,</li>
  <li class="number">And buried one and twenty valiant sons,</li>
  <li>Knighted in field, slain manfully in arms,</li>
  <li>In right and service of their noble country</li>
  <li>Give me a staff of honour for mine age,</li>
  <li>But not a sceptre to control the world:</li>
  <li class="number">Upright he held it, lords, that held it last.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MARCUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>Titus, thou shalt obtain and ask the empery.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">SATURNINUS</li>
  <li>Proud and ambitious tribune, canst thou tell?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>Patience, Prince Saturninus.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">SATURNINUS</li>
  <li>Romans, do me right:</li>
  <li class="number">Patricians, draw your swords: and sheathe them not</li>
  <li>Till Saturninus be Rome's emperor.</li>
  <li>Andronicus, would thou wert shipp'd to hell,</li>
  <li>Rather than rob me of the people's hearts!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LUCIUS</li>
  <li>Proud Saturnine, interrupter of the good</li>
  <li class="number">That noble-minded Titus means to thee!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>Content thee, prince; I will restore to thee</li>
  <li>The people's hearts, and wean them from themselves.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BASSIANUS</li>
  <li>Andronicus, I do not flatter thee,</li>
  <li>But honour thee, and will do till I die:</li>
  <li class="number">My faction if thou strengthen with thy friends,</li>
  <li>I will most thankful be; and thanks to men</li>
  <li>Of noble minds is honourable meed.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>People of Rome, and people's tribunes here,</li>
  <li>I ask your voices and your suffrages:</li>
  <li class="number">Will you bestow them friendly on Andronicus?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">Tribunes</li>
  <li>To gratify the good Andronicus,</li>
  <li>And gratulate his safe return to Rome,</li>
  <li>The people will accept whom he admits.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>Tribunes, I thank you: and this suit I make,</li>
  <li class="number">That you create your emperor's eldest son,</li>
  <li>Lord Saturnine; whose virtues will, I hope,</li>
  <li>Reflect on Rome as Titan's rays on earth,</li>
  <li>And ripen justice in this commonweal:</li>
  <li>Then, if you will elect by my advice,</li>
  <li class="number">Crown him and say 'Long live our emperor!'</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MARCUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>With voices and applause of every sort,</li>
  <li>Patricians and plebeians, we create</li>
  <li>Lord Saturninus Rome's great emperor,</li>
  <li>And say 'Long live our Emperor Saturnine!'</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">A long flourish till they come down</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">SATURNINUS</li>
  <li class="number">Titus Andronicus, for thy favors done</li>
  <li>To us in our election this day,</li>
  <li>I give thee thanks in part of thy deserts,</li>
  <li>And will with deeds requite thy gentleness:</li>
  <li>And, for an onset, Titus, to advance</li>
  <li class="number">Thy name and honourable family,</li>
  <li>Lavinia will I make my empress,</li>
  <li>Rome's royal mistress, mistress of my heart,</li>
  <li>And in the sacred Pantheon her espouse:</li>
  <li>Tell me, Andronicus, doth this motion please thee?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li class="number">It doth, my worthy lord; and in this match</li>
  <li>I hold me highly honour'd of your grace:</li>
  <li>And here in sight of Rome to Saturnine,</li>
  <li>King and commander of our commonweal,</li>
  <li>The wide world's emperor, do I consecrate</li>
  <li class="number">My sword, my chariot and my prisoners;</li>
  <li>Presents well worthy Rome's imperial lord:</li>
  <li>Receive them then, the tribute that I owe,</li>
  <li>Mine honour's ensigns humbled at thy feet.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">SATURNINUS</li>
  <li>Thanks, noble Titus, father of my life!</li>
  <li class="number">How proud I am of thee and of thy gifts</li>
  <li>Rome shall record, and when I do forget</li>
  <li>The least of these unspeakable deserts,</li>
  <li>Romans, forget your fealty to me.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>To TAMORA  Now, madam, are you prisoner to</li>
  <li class="number">an emperor;</li>
  <li>To him that, for your honour and your state,</li>
  <li>Will use you nobly and your followers.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">SATURNINUS</li>
  <li>A goodly lady, trust me; of the hue</li>
  <li>That I would choose, were I to choose anew.</li>
  <li class="number">Clear up, fair queen, that cloudy countenance:</li>
  <li>Though chance of war hath wrought this change of cheer,</li>
  <li>Thou comest not to be made a scorn in Rome:</li>
  <li>Princely shall be thy usage every way.</li>
  <li>Rest on my word, and let not discontent</li>
  <li class="number">Daunt all your hopes: madam, he comforts you</li>
  <li>Can make you greater than the Queen of Goths.</li>
  <li>Lavinia, you are not displeased with this?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LAVINIA</li>
  <li>Not I, my lord; sith true nobility</li>
  <li>Warrants these words in princely courtesy.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">SATURNINUS</li>
  <li class="number">Thanks, sweet Lavinia. Romans, let us go;</li>
  <li>Ransomless here we set our prisoners free:</li>
  <li>Proclaim our honours, lords, with trump and drum.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Flourish. SATURNINUS courts TAMORA in dumb show</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BASSIANUS</li>
  <li>Lord Titus, by your leave, this maid is mine.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Seizing LAVINIA</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>How, sir! are you in earnest then, my lord?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BASSIANUS</li>
  <li class="number">Ay, noble Titus; and resolved withal</li>
  <li>To do myself this reason and this right.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MARCUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>'Suum cuique' is our Roman justice:</li>
  <li>This prince in justice seizeth but his own.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LUCIUS</li>
  <li>And that he will, and shall, if Lucius live.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li class="number">Traitors, avaunt! Where is the emperor's guard?</li>
  <li>Treason, my lord! Lavinia is surprised!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">SATURNINUS</li>
  <li>Surprised! by whom?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BASSIANUS</li>
  <li>By him that justly may</li>
  <li>Bear his betroth'd from all the world away.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Exeunt BASSIANUS and MARCUS with LAVINIA</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MUTIUS</li>
  <li class="number">Brothers, help to convey her hence away,</li>
  <li>And with my sword I'll keep this door safe.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Exeunt LUCIUS, QUINTUS, and MARTIUS</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>Follow, my lord, and I'll soon bring her back.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MUTIUS</li>
  <li>My lord, you pass not here.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>What, villain boy!</li>
  <li class="number">Barr'st me my way in Rome?</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Stabbing MUTIUS</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MUTIUS</li>
  <li>Help, Lucius, help!</li>
  <li class="stage-direction">Dies</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">During the fray, SATURNINUS, TAMORA, DEMETRIUS,
CHIRON and AARON go out and re-enter, above</div>

<div class="stage-direction">Re-enter LUCIUS</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LUCIUS</li>
  <li>My lord, you are unjust, and, more than so,</li>
  <li>In wrongful quarrel you have slain your son.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>Nor thou, nor he, are any sons of mine;</li>
  <li class="number">My sons would never so dishonour me:</li>
  <li>Traitor, restore Lavinia to the emperor.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LUCIUS</li>
  <li>Dead, if you will; but not to be his wife,</li>
  <li>That is another's lawful promised love.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Exit</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">SATURNINUS</li>
  <li>No, Titus, no; the emperor needs her not,</li>
  <li class="number">Nor her, nor thee, nor any of thy stock:</li>
  <li>I'll trust, by leisure, him that mocks me once;</li>
  <li>Thee never, nor thy traitorous haughty sons,</li>
  <li>Confederates all thus to dishonour me.</li>
  <li>Was there none else in Rome to make a stale,</li>
  <li class="number">But Saturnine? Full well, Andronicus,</li>
  <li>Agree these deeds with that proud brag of thine,</li>
  <li>That said'st I begg'd the empire at thy hands.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>O monstrous! what reproachful words are these?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">SATURNINUS</li>
  <li>But go thy ways; go, give that changing piece</li>
  <li class="number">To him that flourish'd for her with his sword</li>
  <li>A valiant son-in-law thou shalt enjoy;</li>
  <li>One fit to bandy with thy lawless sons,</li>
  <li>To ruffle in the commonwealth of Rome.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>These words are razors to my wounded heart.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">SATURNINUS</li>
  <li class="number">And therefore, lovely Tamora, queen of Goths,</li>
  <li>That like the stately Phoebe 'mongst her nymphs</li>
  <li>Dost overshine the gallant'st dames of Rome,</li>
  <li>If thou be pleased with this my sudden choice,</li>
  <li>Behold, I choose thee, Tamora, for my bride,</li>
  <li class="number">And will create thee empress of Rome,</li>
  <li>Speak, Queen of Goths, dost thou applaud my choice?</li>
  <li>And here I swear by all the Roman gods,</li>
  <li>Sith priest and holy water are so near</li>
  <li>And tapers burn so bright and every thing</li>
  <li class="number">In readiness for Hymenaeus stand,</li>
  <li>I will not re-salute the streets of Rome,</li>
  <li>Or climb my palace, till from forth this place</li>
  <li>I lead espoused my bride along with me.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TAMORA</li>
  <li>And here, in sight of heaven, to Rome I swear,</li>
  <li class="number">If Saturnine advance the Queen of Goths,</li>
  <li>She will a handmaid be to his desires,</li>
  <li>A loving nurse, a mother to his youth.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">SATURNINUS</li>
  <li>Ascend, fair queen, Pantheon. Lords, accompany</li>
  <li>Your noble emperor and his lovely bride,</li>
  <li class="number">Sent by the heavens for Prince Saturnine,</li>
  <li>Whose wisdom hath her fortune conquered:</li>
  <li>There shall we consummate our spousal rites.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Exeunt all but TITUS</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>I am not bid to wait upon this bride.</li>
  <li>Titus, when wert thou wont to walk alone,</li>
  <li class="number">Dishonour'd thus, and challenged of wrongs?</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Re-enter MARCUS, LUCIUS, QUINTUS, and MARTIUS</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MARCUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>O Titus, see, O, see what thou hast done!</li>
  <li>In a bad quarrel slain a virtuous son.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>No, foolish tribune, no; no son of mine,</li>
  <li>Nor thou, nor these, confederates in the deed</li>
  <li class="number">That hath dishonour'd all our family;</li>
  <li>Unworthy brother, and unworthy sons!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LUCIUS</li>
  <li>But let us give him burial, as becomes;</li>
  <li>Give Mutius burial with our brethren.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>Traitors, away! he rests not in this tomb:</li>
  <li class="number">This monument five hundred years hath stood,</li>
  <li>Which I have sumptuously re-edified:</li>
  <li>Here none but soldiers and Rome's servitors</li>
  <li>Repose in fame; none basely slain in brawls:</li>
  <li>Bury him where you can; he comes not here.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MARCUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li class="number">My lord, this is impiety in you:</li>
  <li>My nephew Mutius' deeds do plead for him</li>
  <li>He must be buried with his brethren.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">QUINTUS</li>
  <li class="speaker">MARTIUS</li>
  <li>And shall, or him we will accompany.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>'And shall!' what villain was it that spake</li>
  <li class="number">that word?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">QUINTUS</li>
  <li>He that would vouch it in any place but here.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>What, would you bury him in my despite?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MARCUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>No, noble Titus, but entreat of thee</li>
  <li>To pardon Mutius and to bury him.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li class="number">Marcus, even thou hast struck upon my crest,</li>
  <li>And, with these boys, mine honour thou hast wounded:</li>
  <li>My foes I do repute you every one;</li>
  <li>So, trouble me no more, but get you gone.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MARTIUS</li>
  <li>He is not with himself; let us withdraw.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">QUINTUS</li>
  <li class="number">Not I, till Mutius' bones be buried.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">MARCUS and the Sons of TITUS kneel</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MARCUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>Brother, for in that name doth nature plead —  </li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">QUINTUS</li>
  <li>Father, and in that name doth nature speak —  </li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>Speak thou no more, if all the rest will speed.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MARCUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>Renowned Titus, more than half my soul —  </li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LUCIUS</li>
  <li class="number">Dear father, soul and substance of us all —  </li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MARCUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>Suffer thy brother Marcus to inter</li>
  <li>His noble nephew here in virtue's nest,</li>
  <li>That died in honour and Lavinia's cause.</li>
  <li>Thou art a Roman; be not barbarous:</li>
  <li class="number">The Greeks upon advice did bury Ajax</li>
  <li>That slew himself; and wise Laertes' son</li>
  <li>Did graciously plead for his funerals:</li>
  <li>Let not young Mutius, then, that was thy joy</li>
  <li>Be barr'd his entrance here.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li class="number">Rise, Marcus, rise.</li>
  <li>The dismall'st day is this that e'er I saw,</li>
  <li>To be dishonour'd by my sons in Rome!</li>
  <li>Well, bury him, and bury me the next.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">MUTIUS is put into the tomb</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LUCIUS</li>
  <li>There lie thy bones, sweet Mutius, with thy friends,</li>
  <li class="number">Till we with trophies do adorn thy tomb.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">All</li>
  <li>Kneeling  No man shed tears for noble Mutius;</li>
  <li>He lives in fame that died in virtue's cause.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MARCUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>My lord, to step out of these dreary dumps,</li>
  <li>How comes it that the subtle Queen of Goths</li>
  <li class="number">Is of a sudden thus advanced in Rome?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>I know not, Marcus; but I know it is,</li>
  <li>Whether by device or no, the heavens can tell:</li>
  <li>Is she not then beholding to the man</li>
  <li>That brought her for this high good turn so far?</li>
  <li class="number">Yes, and will nobly him remunerate.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Flourish. Re-enter, from one side, SATURNINUS
attended, TAMORA, DEMETRIUS, CHIRON and AARON; from
the other, BASSIANUS, LAVINIA, and others</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">SATURNINUS</li>
  <li>So, Bassianus, you have play'd your prize:</li>
  <li>God give you joy, sir, of your gallant bride!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BASSIANUS</li>
  <li>And you of yours, my lord! I say no more,</li>
  <li>Nor wish no less; and so, I take my leave.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">SATURNINUS</li>
  <li class="number">Traitor, if Rome have law or we have power,</li>
  <li>Thou and thy faction shall repent this rape.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BASSIANUS</li>
  <li>Rape, call you it, my lord, to seize my own,</li>
  <li>My truth-betrothed love and now my wife?</li>
  <li>But let the laws of Rome determine all;</li>
  <li class="number">Meanwhile I am possess'd of that is mine.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">SATURNINUS</li>
  <li>'Tis good, sir: you are very short with us;</li>
  <li>But, if we live, we'll be as sharp with you.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BASSIANUS</li>
  <li>My lord, what I have done, as best I may,</li>
  <li>Answer I must and shall do with my life.</li>
  <li class="number">Only thus much I give your grace to know:</li>
  <li>By all the duties that I owe to Rome,</li>
  <li>This noble gentleman, Lord Titus here,</li>
  <li>Is in opinion and in honour wrong'd;</li>
  <li>That in the rescue of Lavinia</li>
  <li class="number">With his own hand did slay his youngest son,</li>
  <li>In zeal to you and highly moved to wrath</li>
  <li>To be controll'd in that he frankly gave:</li>
  <li>Receive him, then, to favor, Saturnine,</li>
  <li>That hath express'd himself in all his deeds</li>
  <li class="number">A father and a friend to thee and Rome.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>Prince Bassianus, leave to plead my deeds:</li>
  <li>'Tis thou and those that have dishonour'd me.</li>
  <li>Rome and the righteous heavens be my judge,</li>
  <li>How I have loved and honour'd Saturnine!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TAMORA</li>
  <li class="number">My worthy lord, if ever Tamora</li>
  <li>Were gracious in those princely eyes of thine,</li>
  <li>Then hear me speak in indifferently for all;</li>
  <li>And at my suit, sweet, pardon what is past.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">SATURNINUS</li>
  <li>What, madam! be dishonour'd openly,</li>
  <li class="number">And basely put it up without revenge?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TAMORA</li>
  <li>Not so, my lord; the gods of Rome forfend</li>
  <li>I should be author to dishonour you!</li>
  <li>But on mine honour dare I undertake</li>
  <li>For good Lord Titus' innocence in all;</li>
  <li class="number">Whose fury not dissembled speaks his griefs:</li>
  <li>Then, at my suit, look graciously on him;</li>
  <li>Lose not so noble a friend on vain suppose,</li>
  <li>Nor with sour looks afflict his gentle heart.</li>
  <li>Aside to SATURNINUS  My lord, be ruled by me,</li>
  <li class="number">be won at last;</li>
  <li>Dissemble all your griefs and discontents:</li>
  <li>You are but newly planted in your throne;</li>
  <li>Lest, then, the people, and patricians too,</li>
  <li>Upon a just survey, take Titus' part,</li>
  <li class="number">And so supplant you for ingratitude,</li>
  <li>Which Rome reputes to be a heinous sin,</li>
  <li>Yield at entreats; and then let me alone:</li>
  <li>I'll find a day to massacre them all</li>
  <li>And raze their faction and their family,</li>
  <li class="number">The cruel father and his traitorous sons,</li>
  <li>To whom I sued for my dear son's life,</li>
  <li>And make them know what 'tis to let a queen</li>
  <li>Kneel in the streets and beg for grace in vain.</li>
  <li class="stage-direction">Aloud</li>
  <li>Come, come, sweet emperor; come, Andronicus;</li>
  <li class="number">Take up this good old man, and cheer the heart</li>
  <li>That dies in tempest of thy angry frown.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">SATURNINUS</li>
  <li>Rise, Titus, rise; my empress hath prevail'd.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>I thank your majesty, and her, my lord:</li>
  <li>These words, these looks, infuse new life in me.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TAMORA</li>
  <li class="number">Titus, I am incorporate in Rome,</li>
  <li>A Roman now adopted happily,</li>
  <li>And must advise the emperor for his good.</li>
  <li>This day all quarrels die, Andronicus;</li>
  <li>And let it be mine honour, good my lord,</li>
  <li class="number">That I have reconciled your friends and you.</li>
  <li>For you, Prince Bassianus, I have pass'd</li>
  <li>My word and promise to the emperor,</li>
  <li>That you will be more mild and tractable.</li>
  <li>And fear not lords, and you, Lavinia;</li>
  <li class="number">By my advice, all humbled on your knees,</li>
  <li>You shall ask pardon of his majesty.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LUCIUS</li>
  <li>We do, and vow to heaven and to his highness,</li>
  <li>That what we did was mildly as we might,</li>
  <li>Tendering our sister's honour and our own.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MARCUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li class="number">That, on mine honour, here I do protest.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">SATURNINUS</li>
  <li>Away, and talk not; trouble us no more.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TAMORA</li>
  <li>Nay, nay, sweet emperor, we must all be friends:</li>
  <li>The tribune and his nephews kneel for grace;</li>
  <li>I will not be denied: sweet heart, look back.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">SATURNINUS</li>
  <li class="number">Marcus, for thy sake and thy brother's here,</li>
  <li>And at my lovely Tamora's entreats,</li>
  <li>I do remit these young men's heinous faults: Stand up.</li>
  <li>Lavinia, though you left me like a churl,</li>
  <li>I found a friend, and sure as death I swore</li>
  <li class="number">I would not part a bachelor from the priest.</li>
  <li>Come, if the emperor's court can feast two brides,</li>
  <li>You are my guest, Lavinia, and your friends.</li>
  <li>This day shall be a love-day, Tamora.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>To-morrow, an it please your majesty</li>
  <li class="number">To hunt the panther and the hart with me,</li>
  <li>With horn and hound we'll give your grace bonjour.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">SATURNINUS</li>
  <li>Be it so, Titus, and gramercy too.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Flourish. Exeunt</div>

</section>

</section>

<section class="act">

<h2>ACT II</h2>

<section class="scene">

<h3>SCENE I.  Rome. Before the Palace.</h3>

<div class="stage-direction">Enter AARON</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">AARON</li>
  <li>Now climbeth Tamora Olympus' top,</li>
  <li>Safe out of fortune's shot; and sits aloft,</li>
  <li>Secure of thunder's crack or lightning flash;</li>
  <li>Advanced above pale envy's threatening reach.</li>
  <li class="number">As when the golden sun salutes the morn,</li>
  <li>And, having gilt the ocean with his beams,</li>
  <li>Gallops the zodiac in his glistering coach,</li>
  <li>And overlooks the highest-peering hills;</li>
  <li>So Tamora:</li>
  <li class="number">Upon her wit doth earthly honour wait,</li>
  <li>And virtue stoops and trembles at her frown.</li>
  <li>Then, Aaron, arm thy heart, and fit thy thoughts,</li>
  <li>To mount aloft with thy imperial mistress,</li>
  <li>And mount her pitch, whom thou in triumph long</li>
  <li class="number">Hast prisoner held, fetter'd in amorous chains</li>
  <li>And faster bound to Aaron's charming eyes</li>
  <li>Than is Prometheus tied to Caucasus.</li>
  <li>Away with slavish weeds and servile thoughts!</li>
  <li>I will be bright, and shine in pearl and gold,</li>
  <li class="number">To wait upon this new-made empress.</li>
  <li>To wait, said I? to wanton with this queen,</li>
  <li>This goddess, this Semiramis, this nymph,</li>
  <li>This siren, that will charm Rome's Saturnine,</li>
  <li>And see his shipwreck and his commonweal's.</li>
  <li class="number">Holloa! what storm is this?</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Enter DEMETRIUS and CHIRON, braving</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DEMETRIUS</li>
  <li>Chiron, thy years want wit, thy wit wants edge,</li>
  <li>And manners, to intrude where I am graced;</li>
  <li>And may, for aught thou know'st, affected be.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">CHIRON</li>
  <li>Demetrius, thou dost over-ween in all;</li>
  <li class="number">And so in this, to bear me down with braves.</li>
  <li>'Tis not the difference of a year or two</li>
  <li>Makes me less gracious or thee more fortunate:</li>
  <li>I am as able and as fit as thou</li>
  <li>To serve, and to deserve my mistress' grace;</li>
  <li class="number">And that my sword upon thee shall approve,</li>
  <li>And plead my passions for Lavinia's love.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">AARON</li>
  <li>Aside  Clubs, clubs! these lovers will not keep</li>
  <li>the peace.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DEMETRIUS</li>
  <li>Why, boy, although our mother, unadvised,</li>
  <li class="number">Gave you a dancing-rapier by your side,</li>
  <li>Are you so desperate grown, to threat your friends?</li>
  <li>Go to; have your lath glued within your sheath</li>
  <li>Till you know better how to handle it.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">CHIRON</li>
  <li>Meanwhile, sir, with the little skill I have,</li>
  <li class="number">Full well shalt thou perceive how much I dare.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DEMETRIUS</li>
  <li>Ay, boy, grow ye so brave?</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">They draw</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">AARON</li>
  <li>Coming forward  Why, how now, lords!</li>
  <li>So near the emperor's palace dare you draw,</li>
  <li>And maintain such a quarrel openly?</li>
  <li class="number">Full well I wot the ground of all this grudge:</li>
  <li>I would not for a million of gold</li>
  <li>The cause were known to them it most concerns;</li>
  <li>Nor would your noble mother for much more</li>
  <li>Be so dishonour'd in the court of Rome.</li>
  <li class="number">For shame, put up.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DEMETRIUS</li>
  <li>Not I, till I have sheathed</li>
  <li>My rapier in his bosom and withal</li>
  <li>Thrust these reproachful speeches down his throat</li>
  <li>That he hath breathed in my dishonour here.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">CHIRON</li>
  <li class="number">For that I am prepared and full resolved.</li>
  <li>Foul-spoken coward, that thunder'st with thy tongue,</li>
  <li>And with thy weapon nothing darest perform!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">AARON</li>
  <li>Away, I say!</li>
  <li>Now, by the gods that warlike Goths adore,</li>
  <li class="number">This petty brabble will undo us all.</li>
  <li>Why, lords, and think you not how dangerous</li>
  <li>It is to jet upon a prince's right?</li>
  <li>What, is Lavinia then become so loose,</li>
  <li>Or Bassianus so degenerate,</li>
  <li class="number">That for her love such quarrels may be broach'd</li>
  <li>Without controlment, justice, or revenge?</li>
  <li>Young lords, beware! and should the empress know</li>
  <li>This discord's ground, the music would not please.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">CHIRON</li>
  <li>I care not, I, knew she and all the world:</li>
  <li class="number">I love Lavinia more than all the world.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DEMETRIUS</li>
  <li>Youngling, learn thou to make some meaner choice:</li>
  <li>Lavinia is thine elder brother's hope.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">AARON</li>
  <li>Why, are ye mad? or know ye not, in Rome</li>
  <li>How furious and impatient they be,</li>
  <li class="number">And cannot brook competitors in love?</li>
  <li>I tell you, lords, you do but plot your deaths</li>
  <li>By this device.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">CHIRON</li>
  <li>Aaron, a thousand deaths</li>
  <li>Would I propose to achieve her whom I love.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">AARON</li>
  <li class="number">To achieve her! how?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DEMETRIUS</li>
  <li>Why makest thou it so strange?</li>
  <li>She is a woman, therefore may be woo'd;</li>
  <li>She is a woman, therefore may be won;</li>
  <li>She is Lavinia, therefore must be loved.</li>
  <li class="number">What, man! more water glideth by the mill</li>
  <li>Than wots the miller of; and easy it is</li>
  <li>Of a cut loaf to steal a shive, we know:</li>
  <li>Though Bassianus be the emperor's brother.</li>
  <li>Better than he have worn Vulcan's badge.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">AARON</li>
  <li class="number">Aside  Ay, and as good as Saturninus may.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DEMETRIUS</li>
  <li>Then why should he despair that knows to court it</li>
  <li>With words, fair looks and liberality?</li>
  <li>What, hast not thou full often struck a doe,</li>
  <li>And borne her cleanly by the keeper's nose?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">AARON</li>
  <li class="number">Why, then, it seems, some certain snatch or so</li>
  <li>Would serve your turns.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">CHIRON</li>
  <li>Ay, so the turn were served.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DEMETRIUS</li>
  <li>Aaron, thou hast hit it.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">AARON</li>
  <li>Would you had hit it too!</li>
  <li class="number">Then should not we be tired with this ado.</li>
  <li>Why, hark ye, hark ye! and are you such fools</li>
  <li>To square for this? would it offend you, then</li>
  <li>That both should speed?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">CHIRON</li>
  <li>Faith, not me.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DEMETRIUS</li>
  <li class="number">Nor me, so I were one.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">AARON</li>
  <li>For shame, be friends, and join for that you jar:</li>
  <li>'Tis policy and stratagem must do</li>
  <li>That you affect; and so must you resolve,</li>
  <li>That what you cannot as you would achieve,</li>
  <li class="number">You must perforce accomplish as you may.</li>
  <li>Take this of me: Lucrece was not more chaste</li>
  <li>Than this Lavinia, Bassianus' love.</li>
  <li>A speedier course than lingering languishment</li>
  <li>Must we pursue, and I have found the path.</li>
  <li class="number">My lords, a solemn hunting is in hand;</li>
  <li>There will the lovely Roman ladies troop:</li>
  <li>The forest walks are wide and spacious;</li>
  <li>And many unfrequented plots there are</li>
  <li>Fitted by kind for rape and villany:</li>
  <li class="number">Single you thither then this dainty doe,</li>
  <li>And strike her home by force, if not by words:</li>
  <li>This way, or not at all, stand you in hope.</li>
  <li>Come, come, our empress, with her sacred wit</li>
  <li>To villany and vengeance consecrate,</li>
  <li class="number">Will we acquaint with all that we intend;</li>
  <li>And she shall file our engines with advice,</li>
  <li>That will not suffer you to square yourselves,</li>
  <li>But to your wishes' height advance you both.</li>
  <li>The emperor's court is like the house of Fame,</li>
  <li class="number">The palace full of tongues, of eyes, and ears:</li>
  <li>The woods are ruthless, dreadful, deaf, and dull;</li>
  <li>There speak, and strike, brave boys, and take</li>
  <li>your turns;</li>
  <li>There serve your lusts, shadow'd from heaven's eye,</li>
  <li class="number">And revel in Lavinia's treasury.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">CHIRON</li>
  <li>Thy counsel, lad, smells of no cowardice,</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DEMETRIUS</li>
  <li>Sit fas aut nefas, till I find the stream</li>
  <li>To cool this heat, a charm to calm these fits.</li>
  <li>Per Styga, per manes vehor.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Exeunt</div>

</section>

<section class="scene">

<h3>SCENE II.  A forest near Rome. Horns and cry of hounds heard.</h3>

<div class="stage-direction">Enter TITUS ANDRONICUS, with Hunters, etc.., MARCUS,
LUCIUS, QUINTUS, and MARTIUS</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>The hunt is up, the morn is bright and grey,</li>
  <li>The fields are fragrant and the woods are green:</li>
  <li>Uncouple here and let us make a bay</li>
  <li>And wake the emperor and his lovely bride</li>
  <li class="number">And rouse the prince and ring a hunter's peal,</li>
  <li>That all the court may echo with the noise.</li>
  <li>Sons, let it be your charge, as it is ours,</li>
  <li>To attend the emperor's person carefully:</li>
  <li>I have been troubled in my sleep this night,</li>
  <li class="number">But dawning day new comfort hath inspired.</li>
  <li class="stage-direction">A cry of hounds and horns, winded in a peal. Enter
SATURNINUS, TAMORA, BASSIANUS, LAVINIA, DEMETRIUS,
CHIRON, and Attendants</li>
  <li>Many good morrows to your majesty;</li>
  <li>Madam, to you as many and as good:</li>
  <li>I promised your grace a hunter's peal.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">SATURNINUS</li>
  <li>And you have rung it lustily, my lord;</li>
  <li class="number">Somewhat too early for new-married ladies.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BASSIANUS</li>
  <li>Lavinia, how say you?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LAVINIA</li>
  <li>I say, no;</li>
  <li>I have been broad awake two hours and more.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">SATURNINUS</li>
  <li>Come on, then; horse and chariots let us have,</li>
  <li class="number">And to our sport.</li>
  <li class="stage-direction">To TAMORA</li>
  <li>Madam, now shall ye see</li>
  <li>Our Roman hunting.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MARCUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>I have dogs, my lord,</li>
  <li>Will rouse the proudest panther in the chase,</li>
  <li class="number">And climb the highest promontory top.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>And I have horse will follow where the game</li>
  <li>Makes way, and run like swallows o'er the plain.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DEMETRIUS</li>
  <li>Chiron, we hunt not, we, with horse nor hound,</li>
  <li>But hope to pluck a dainty doe to ground.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Exeunt</div>

</section>

<section class="scene">

<h3>SCENE III.  A lonely part of the forest.</h3>

<div class="stage-direction">Enter AARON, with a bag of gold</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">AARON</li>
  <li>He that had wit would think that I had none,</li>
  <li>To bury so much gold under a tree,</li>
  <li>And never after to inherit it.</li>
  <li>Let him that thinks of me so abjectly</li>
  <li class="number">Know that this gold must coin a stratagem,</li>
  <li>Which, cunningly effected, will beget</li>
  <li>A very excellent piece of villany:</li>
  <li>And so repose, sweet gold, for their unrest</li>
  <li class="stage-direction">Hides the gold</li>
  <li>That have their alms out of the empress' chest.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Enter TAMORA</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TAMORA</li>
  <li class="number">My lovely Aaron, wherefore look'st thou sad,</li>
  <li>When every thing doth make a gleeful boast?</li>
  <li>The birds chant melody on every bush,</li>
  <li>The snake lies rolled in the cheerful sun,</li>
  <li>The green leaves quiver with the cooling wind</li>
  <li class="number">And make a chequer'd shadow on the ground:</li>
  <li>Under their sweet shade, Aaron, let us sit,</li>
  <li>And, whilst the babbling echo mocks the hounds,</li>
  <li>Replying shrilly to the well-tuned horns,</li>
  <li>As if a double hunt were heard at once,</li>
  <li class="number">Let us sit down and mark their yelping noise;</li>
  <li>And, after conflict such as was supposed</li>
  <li>The wandering prince and Dido once enjoy'd,</li>
  <li>When with a happy storm they were surprised</li>
  <li>And curtain'd with a counsel-keeping cave,</li>
  <li class="number">We may, each wreathed in the other's arms,</li>
  <li>Our pastimes done, possess a golden slumber;</li>
  <li>Whiles hounds and horns and sweet melodious birds</li>
  <li>Be unto us as is a nurse's song</li>
  <li>Of lullaby to bring her babe asleep.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">AARON</li>
  <li class="number">Madam, though Venus govern your desires,</li>
  <li>Saturn is dominator over mine:</li>
  <li>What signifies my deadly-standing eye,</li>
  <li>My silence and my cloudy melancholy,</li>
  <li>My fleece of woolly hair that now uncurls</li>
  <li class="number">Even as an adder when she doth unroll</li>
  <li>To do some fatal execution?</li>
  <li>No, madam, these are no venereal signs:</li>
  <li>Vengeance is in my heart, death in my hand,</li>
  <li>Blood and revenge are hammering in my head.</li>
  <li class="number">Hark Tamora, the empress of my soul,</li>
  <li>Which never hopes more heaven than rests in thee,</li>
  <li>This is the day of doom for Bassianus:</li>
  <li>His Philomel must lose her tongue to-day,</li>
  <li>Thy sons make pillage of her chastity</li>
  <li class="number">And wash their hands in Bassianus' blood.</li>
  <li>Seest thou this letter? take it up, I pray thee,</li>
  <li>And give the king this fatal plotted scroll.</li>
  <li>Now question me no more; we are espied;</li>
  <li>Here comes a parcel of our hopeful booty,</li>
  <li class="number">Which dreads not yet their lives' destruction.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TAMORA</li>
  <li>Ah, my sweet Moor, sweeter to me than life!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">AARON</li>
  <li>No more, great empress; Bassianus comes:</li>
  <li>Be cross with him; and I'll go fetch thy sons</li>
  <li>To back thy quarrels, whatsoe'er they be.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Exit</div>

<div class="stage-direction">Enter BASSIANUS and LAVINIA</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BASSIANUS</li>
  <li class="number">Who have we here? Rome's royal empress,</li>
  <li>Unfurnish'd of her well-beseeming troop?</li>
  <li>Or is it Dian, habited like her,</li>
  <li>Who hath abandoned her holy groves</li>
  <li>To see the general hunting in this forest?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TAMORA</li>
  <li class="number">Saucy controller of our private steps!</li>
  <li>Had I the power that some say Dian had,</li>
  <li>Thy temples should be planted presently</li>
  <li>With horns, as was Actaeon's; and the hounds</li>
  <li>Should drive upon thy new-transformed limbs,</li>
  <li class="number">Unmannerly intruder as thou art!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LAVINIA</li>
  <li>Under your patience, gentle empress,</li>
  <li>'Tis thought you have a goodly gift in horning;</li>
  <li>And to be doubted that your Moor and you</li>
  <li>Are singled forth to try experiments:</li>
  <li class="number">Jove shield your husband from his hounds to-day!</li>
  <li>'Tis pity they should take him for a stag.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BASSIANUS</li>
  <li>Believe me, queen, your swarth Cimmerian</li>
  <li>Doth make your honour of his body's hue,</li>
  <li>Spotted, detested, and abominable.</li>
  <li class="number">Why are you sequester'd from all your train,</li>
  <li>Dismounted from your snow-white goodly steed.</li>
  <li>And wander'd hither to an obscure plot,</li>
  <li>Accompanied but with a barbarous Moor,</li>
  <li>If foul desire had not conducted you?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LAVINIA</li>
  <li class="number">And, being intercepted in your sport,</li>
  <li>Great reason that my noble lord be rated</li>
  <li>For sauciness. I pray you, let us hence,</li>
  <li>And let her joy her raven-colour'd love;</li>
  <li>This valley fits the purpose passing well.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BASSIANUS</li>
  <li class="number">The king my brother shall have note of this.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LAVINIA</li>
  <li>Ay, for these slips have made him noted long:</li>
  <li>Good king, to be so mightily abused!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TAMORA</li>
  <li>Why have I patience to endure all this?</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Enter DEMETRIUS and CHIRON</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DEMETRIUS</li>
  <li>How now, dear sovereign, and our gracious mother!</li>
  <li class="number">Why doth your highness look so pale and wan?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TAMORA</li>
  <li>Have I not reason, think you, to look pale?</li>
  <li>These two have 'ticed me hither to this place:</li>
  <li>A barren detested vale, you see it is;</li>
  <li>The trees, though summer, yet forlorn and lean,</li>
  <li class="number">O'ercome with moss and baleful mistletoe:</li>
  <li>Here never shines the sun; here nothing breeds,</li>
  <li>Unless the nightly owl or fatal raven:</li>
  <li>And when they show'd me this abhorred pit,</li>
  <li>They told me, here, at dead time of the night,</li>
  <li class="number">A thousand fiends, a thousand hissing snakes,</li>
  <li>Ten thousand swelling toads, as many urchins,</li>
  <li>Would make such fearful and confused cries</li>
  <li>As any mortal body hearing it</li>
  <li>Should straight fall mad, or else die suddenly.</li>
  <li class="number">No sooner had they told this hellish tale,</li>
  <li>But straight they told me they would bind me here</li>
  <li>Unto the body of a dismal yew,</li>
  <li>And leave me to this miserable death:</li>
  <li>And then they call'd me foul adulteress,</li>
  <li class="number">Lascivious Goth, and all the bitterest terms</li>
  <li>That ever ear did hear to such effect:</li>
  <li>And, had you not by wondrous fortune come,</li>
  <li>This vengeance on me had they executed.</li>
  <li>Revenge it, as you love your mother's life,</li>
  <li class="number">Or be ye not henceforth call'd my children.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DEMETRIUS</li>
  <li>This is a witness that I am thy son.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Stabs BASSIANUS</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">CHIRON</li>
  <li>And this for me, struck home to show my strength.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Also stabs BASSIANUS, who dies</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LAVINIA</li>
  <li>Ay, come, Semiramis, nay, barbarous Tamora,</li>
  <li>For no name fits thy nature but thy own!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TAMORA</li>
  <li class="number">Give me thy poniard; you shall know, my boys</li>
  <li>Your mother's hand shall right your mother's wrong.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DEMETRIUS</li>
  <li>Stay, madam; here is more belongs to her;</li>
  <li>First thrash the corn, then after burn the straw:</li>
  <li>This minion stood upon her chastity,</li>
  <li class="number">Upon her nuptial vow, her loyalty,</li>
  <li>And with that painted hope braves your mightiness:</li>
  <li>And shall she carry this unto her grave?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">CHIRON</li>
  <li>An if she do, I would I were an eunuch.</li>
  <li>Drag hence her husband to some secret hole,</li>
  <li class="number">And make his dead trunk pillow to our lust.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TAMORA</li>
  <li>But when ye have the honey ye desire,</li>
  <li>Let not this wasp outlive, us both to sting.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">CHIRON</li>
  <li>I warrant you, madam, we will make that sure.</li>
  <li>Come, mistress, now perforce we will enjoy</li>
  <li class="number">That nice-preserved honesty of yours.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LAVINIA</li>
  <li>O Tamora! thou bear'st a woman's face —  </li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TAMORA</li>
  <li>I will not hear her speak; away with her!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LAVINIA</li>
  <li>Sweet lords, entreat her hear me but a word.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DEMETRIUS</li>
  <li>Listen, fair madam: let it be your glory</li>
  <li class="number">To see her tears; but be your heart to them</li>
  <li>As unrelenting flint to drops of rain.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LAVINIA</li>
  <li>When did the tiger's young ones teach the dam?</li>
  <li>O, do not learn her wrath; she taught it thee;</li>
  <li>The milk thou suck'dst from her did turn to marble;</li>
  <li class="number">Even at thy teat thou hadst thy tyranny.</li>
  <li>Yet every mother breeds not sons alike:</li>
  <li class="stage-direction">To CHIRON</li>
  <li>Do thou entreat her show a woman pity.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">CHIRON</li>
  <li>What, wouldst thou have me prove myself a bastard?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LAVINIA</li>
  <li>'Tis true; the raven doth not hatch a lark:</li>
  <li class="number">Yet have I heard —  O, could I find it now! — </li>
  <li>The lion moved with pity did endure</li>
  <li>To have his princely paws pared all away:</li>
  <li>Some say that ravens foster forlorn children,</li>
  <li>The whilst their own birds famish in their nests:</li>
  <li class="number">O, be to me, though thy hard heart say no,</li>
  <li>Nothing so kind, but something pitiful!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TAMORA</li>
  <li>I know not what it means; away with her!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LAVINIA</li>
  <li>O, let me teach thee! for my father's sake,</li>
  <li>That gave thee life, when well he might have</li>
  <li class="number">slain thee,</li>
  <li>Be not obdurate, open thy deaf ears.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TAMORA</li>
  <li>Hadst thou in person ne'er offended me,</li>
  <li>Even for his sake am I pitiless.</li>
  <li>Remember, boys, I pour'd forth tears in vain,</li>
  <li class="number">To save your brother from the sacrifice;</li>
  <li>But fierce Andronicus would not relent;</li>
  <li>Therefore, away with her, and use her as you will,</li>
  <li>The worse to her, the better loved of me.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LAVINIA</li>
  <li>O Tamora, be call'd a gentle queen,</li>
  <li class="number">And with thine own hands kill me in this place!</li>
  <li>For 'tis not life that I have begg'd so long;</li>
  <li>Poor I was slain when Bassianus died.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TAMORA</li>
  <li>What begg'st thou, then? fond woman, let me go.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LAVINIA</li>
  <li>'Tis present death I beg; and one thing more</li>
  <li class="number">That womanhood denies my tongue to tell:</li>
  <li>O, keep me from their worse than killing lust,</li>
  <li>And tumble me into some loathsome pit,</li>
  <li>Where never man's eye may behold my body:</li>
  <li>Do this, and be a charitable murderer.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TAMORA</li>
  <li class="number">So should I rob my sweet sons of their fee:</li>
  <li>No, let them satisfy their lust on thee.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DEMETRIUS</li>
  <li>Away! for thou hast stay'd us here too long.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LAVINIA</li>
  <li>No grace? no womanhood? Ah, beastly creature!</li>
  <li>The blot and enemy to our general name!</li>
  <li class="number">Confusion fall — </li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">CHIRON</li>
  <li>Nay, then I'll stop your mouth. Bring thou her husband:</li>
  <li>This is the hole where Aaron bid us hide him.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">DEMETRIUS throws the body of BASSIANUS into the
pit; then exeunt DEMETRIUS and CHIRON, dragging
off LAVINIA</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TAMORA</li>
  <li>Farewell, my sons: see that you make her sure.</li>
  <li>Ne'er let my heart know merry cheer indeed,</li>
  <li class="number">Till all the Andronici be made away.</li>
  <li>Now will I hence to seek my lovely Moor,</li>
  <li>And let my spleenful sons this trull deflow'r.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Exit</div>

<div class="stage-direction">Re-enter AARON, with QUINTUS and MARTIUS</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">AARON</li>
  <li>Come on, my lords, the better foot before:</li>
  <li>Straight will I bring you to the loathsome pit</li>
  <li class="number">Where I espied the panther fast asleep.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">QUINTUS</li>
  <li>My sight is very dull, whate'er it bodes.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MARTIUS</li>
  <li>And mine, I promise you; were't not for shame,</li>
  <li>Well could I leave our sport to sleep awhile.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Falls into the pit</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">QUINTUS</li>
  <li>What art thou fall'n? What subtle hole is this,</li>
  <li class="number">Whose mouth is cover'd with rude-growing briers,</li>
  <li>Upon whose leaves are drops of new-shed blood</li>
  <li>As fresh as morning dew distill'd on flowers?</li>
  <li>A very fatal place it seems to me.</li>
  <li>Speak, brother, hast thou hurt thee with the fall?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MARTIUS</li>
  <li class="number">O brother, with the dismall'st object hurt</li>
  <li>That ever eye with sight made heart lament!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">AARON</li>
  <li>Aside  Now will I fetch the king to find them here,</li>
  <li>That he thereby may give a likely guess</li>
  <li>How these were they that made away his brother.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Exit</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MARTIUS</li>
  <li class="number">Why dost not comfort me, and help me out</li>
  <li>From this unhallowed and blood-stained hole?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">QUINTUS</li>
  <li>I am surprised with an uncouth fear;</li>
  <li>A chilling sweat o'er-runs my trembling joints:</li>
  <li>My heart suspects more than mine eye can see.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MARTIUS</li>
  <li class="number">To prove thou hast a true-divining heart,</li>
  <li>Aaron and thou look down into this den,</li>
  <li>And see a fearful sight of blood and death.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">QUINTUS</li>
  <li>Aaron is gone; and my compassionate heart</li>
  <li>Will not permit mine eyes once to behold</li>
  <li class="number">The thing whereat it trembles by surmise;</li>
  <li>O, tell me how it is; for ne'er till now</li>
  <li>Was I a child to fear I know not what.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MARTIUS</li>
  <li>Lord Bassianus lies embrewed here,</li>
  <li>All on a heap, like to a slaughter'd lamb,</li>
  <li class="number">In this detested, dark, blood-drinking pit.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">QUINTUS</li>
  <li>If it be dark, how dost thou know 'tis he?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MARTIUS</li>
  <li>Upon his bloody finger he doth wear</li>
  <li>A precious ring, that lightens all the hole,</li>
  <li>Which, like a taper in some monument,</li>
  <li class="number">Doth shine upon the dead man's earthy cheeks,</li>
  <li>And shows the ragged entrails of the pit:</li>
  <li>So pale did shine the moon on Pyramus</li>
  <li>When he by night lay bathed in maiden blood.</li>
  <li>O brother, help me with thy fainting hand — </li>
  <li class="number">If fear hath made thee faint, as me it hath — </li>
  <li>Out of this fell devouring receptacle,</li>
  <li>As hateful as Cocytus' misty mouth.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">QUINTUS</li>
  <li>Reach me thy hand, that I may help thee out;</li>
  <li>Or, wanting strength to do thee so much good,</li>
  <li class="number">I may be pluck'd into the swallowing womb</li>
  <li>Of this deep pit, poor Bassianus' grave.</li>
  <li>I have no strength to pluck thee to the brink.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MARTIUS</li>
  <li>Nor I no strength to climb without thy help.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">QUINTUS</li>
  <li>Thy hand once more; I will not loose again,</li>
  <li class="number">Till thou art here aloft, or I below:</li>
  <li>Thou canst not come to me: I come to thee.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Falls in</div>

<div class="stage-direction">Enter SATURNINUS with AARON</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">SATURNINUS</li>
  <li>Along with me: I'll see what hole is here,</li>
  <li>And what he is that now is leap'd into it.</li>
  <li>Say who art thou that lately didst descend</li>
  <li class="number">Into this gaping hollow of the earth?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MARTIUS</li>
  <li>The unhappy son of old Andronicus:</li>
  <li>Brought hither in a most unlucky hour,</li>
  <li>To find thy brother Bassianus dead.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">SATURNINUS</li>
  <li>My brother dead! I know thou dost but jest:</li>
  <li class="number">He and his lady both are at the lodge</li>
  <li>Upon the north side of this pleasant chase;</li>
  <li>'Tis not an hour since I left him there.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MARTIUS</li>
  <li>We know not where you left him all alive;</li>
  <li>But, out, alas! here have we found him dead.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Re-enter TAMORA, with Attendants; TITUS
ANDRONICUS, and Lucius</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TAMORA</li>
  <li class="number">Where is my lord the king?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">SATURNINUS</li>
  <li>Here, Tamora, though grieved with killing grief.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TAMORA</li>
  <li>Where is thy brother Bassianus?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">SATURNINUS</li>
  <li>Now to the bottom dost thou search my wound:</li>
  <li>Poor Bassianus here lies murdered.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TAMORA</li>
  <li class="number">Then all too late I bring this fatal writ,</li>
  <li>The complot of this timeless tragedy;</li>
  <li>And wonder greatly that man's face can fold</li>
  <li>In pleasing smiles such murderous tyranny.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">She giveth SATURNINUS a letter</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">SATURNINUS</li>
  <li>Reads  'An if we miss to meet him handsomely — </li>
  <li class="number">Sweet huntsman, Bassianus 'tis we mean — </li>
  <li>Do thou so much as dig the grave for him:</li>
  <li>Thou know'st our meaning. Look for thy reward</li>
  <li>Among the nettles at the elder-tree</li>
  <li>Which overshades the mouth of that same pit</li>
  <li class="number">Where we decreed to bury Bassianus.</li>
  <li>Do this, and purchase us thy lasting friends.'</li>
  <li>O Tamora! was ever heard the like?</li>
  <li>This is the pit, and this the elder-tree.</li>
  <li>Look, sirs, if you can find the huntsman out</li>
  <li class="number">That should have murdered Bassianus here.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">AARON</li>
  <li>My gracious lord, here is the bag of gold.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">SATURNINUS</li>
  <li>To TITUS  Two of thy whelps, fell curs of</li>
  <li>bloody kind,</li>
  <li>Have here bereft my brother of his life.</li>
  <li class="number">Sirs, drag them from the pit unto the prison:</li>
  <li>There let them bide until we have devised</li>
  <li>Some never-heard-of torturing pain for them.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TAMORA</li>
  <li>What, are they in this pit? O wondrous thing!</li>
  <li>How easily murder is discovered!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li class="number">High emperor, upon my feeble knee</li>
  <li>I beg this boon, with tears not lightly shed,</li>
  <li>That this fell fault of my accursed sons,</li>
  <li>Accursed if the fault be proved in them —  </li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">SATURNINUS</li>
  <li>If it be proved! you see it is apparent.</li>
  <li class="number">Who found this letter? Tamora, was it you?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TAMORA</li>
  <li>Andronicus himself did take it up.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>I did, my lord: yet let me be their bail;</li>
  <li>For, by my father's reverend tomb, I vow</li>
  <li>They shall be ready at your highness' will</li>
  <li class="number">To answer their suspicion with their lives.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">SATURNINUS</li>
  <li>Thou shalt not bail them: see thou follow me.</li>
  <li>Some bring the murder'd body, some the murderers:</li>
  <li>Let them not speak a word; the guilt is plain;</li>
  <li>For, by my soul, were there worse end than death,</li>
  <li class="number">That end upon them should be executed.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TAMORA</li>
  <li>Andronicus, I will entreat the king;</li>
  <li>Fear not thy sons; they shall do well enough.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>Come, Lucius, come; stay not to talk with them.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Exeunt</div>

</section>

<section class="scene">

<h3>SCENE IV.  Another part of the forest.</h3>

<div class="stage-direction">Enter DEMETRIUS and CHIRON with LAVINIA, ravished;
her hands cut off, and her tongue cut out</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DEMETRIUS</li>
  <li>So, now go tell, an if thy tongue can speak,</li>
  <li>Who 'twas that cut thy tongue and ravish'd thee.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">CHIRON</li>
  <li>Write down thy mind, bewray thy meaning so,</li>
  <li>An if thy stumps will let thee play the scribe.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DEMETRIUS</li>
  <li class="number">See, how with signs and tokens she can scrowl.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">CHIRON</li>
  <li>Go home, call for sweet water, wash thy hands.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DEMETRIUS</li>
  <li>She hath no tongue to call, nor hands to wash;</li>
  <li>And so let's leave her to her silent walks.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">CHIRON</li>
  <li>An 'twere my case, I should go hang myself.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DEMETRIUS</li>
  <li class="number">If thou hadst hands to help thee knit the cord.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Exeunt DEMETRIUS and CHIRON</div>

<div class="stage-direction">Enter MARCUS</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MARCUS</li>
  <li>Who is this? my niece, that flies away so fast!</li>
  <li>Cousin, a word; where is your husband?</li>
  <li>If I do dream, would all my wealth would wake me!</li>
  <li>If I do wake, some planet strike me down,</li>
  <li class="number">That I may slumber in eternal sleep!</li>
  <li>Speak, gentle niece, what stern ungentle hands</li>
  <li>Have lopp'd and hew'd and made thy body bare</li>
  <li>Of her two branches, those sweet ornaments,</li>
  <li>Whose circling shadows kings have sought to sleep in,</li>
  <li class="number">And might not gain so great a happiness</li>
  <li>As have thy love? Why dost not speak to me?</li>
  <li>Alas, a crimson river of warm blood,</li>
  <li>Like to a bubbling fountain stirr'd with wind,</li>
  <li>Doth rise and fall between thy rosed lips,</li>
  <li class="number">Coming and going with thy honey breath.</li>
  <li>But, sure, some Tereus hath deflowered thee,</li>
  <li>And, lest thou shouldst detect him, cut thy tongue.</li>
  <li>Ah, now thou turn'st away thy face for shame!</li>
  <li>And, notwithstanding all this loss of blood,</li>
  <li class="number">As from a conduit with three issuing spouts,</li>
  <li>Yet do thy cheeks look red as Titan's face</li>
  <li>Blushing to be encountered with a cloud.</li>
  <li>Shall I speak for thee? shall I say 'tis so?</li>
  <li>O, that I knew thy heart; and knew the beast,</li>
  <li class="number">That I might rail at him, to ease my mind!</li>
  <li>Sorrow concealed, like an oven stopp'd,</li>
  <li>Doth burn the heart to cinders where it is.</li>
  <li>Fair Philomela, she but lost her tongue,</li>
  <li>And in a tedious sampler sew'd her mind:</li>
  <li class="number">But, lovely niece, that mean is cut from thee;</li>
  <li>A craftier Tereus, cousin, hast thou met,</li>
  <li>And he hath cut those pretty fingers off,</li>
  <li>That could have better sew'd than Philomel.</li>
  <li>O, had the monster seen those lily hands</li>
  <li class="number">Tremble, like aspen-leaves, upon a lute,</li>
  <li>And make the silken strings delight to kiss them,</li>
  <li>He would not then have touch'd them for his life!</li>
  <li>Or, had he heard the heavenly harmony</li>
  <li>Which that sweet tongue hath made,</li>
  <li class="number">He would have dropp'd his knife, and fell asleep</li>
  <li>As Cerberus at the Thracian poet's feet.</li>
  <li>Come, let us go, and make thy father blind;</li>
  <li>For such a sight will blind a father's eye:</li>
  <li>One hour's storm will drown the fragrant meads;</li>
  <li class="number">What will whole months of tears thy father's eyes?</li>
  <li>Do not draw back, for we will mourn with thee</li>
  <li>O, could our mourning ease thy misery!</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Exeunt</div>

</section>

</section>

<section class="act">

<h2>ACT III</h2>

<section class="scene">

<h3>SCENE I.  Rome. A street.</h3>

<div class="stage-direction">Enter Judges, Senators and Tribunes, with MARTIUS
and QUINTUS, bound, passing on to the place of
execution; TITUS going before, pleading</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>Hear me, grave fathers! noble tribunes, stay!</li>
  <li>For pity of mine age, whose youth was spent</li>
  <li>In dangerous wars, whilst you securely slept;</li>
  <li>For all my blood in Rome's great quarrel shed;</li>
  <li class="number">For all the frosty nights that I have watch'd;</li>
  <li>And for these bitter tears, which now you see</li>
  <li>Filling the aged wrinkles in my cheeks;</li>
  <li>Be pitiful to my condemned sons,</li>
  <li>Whose souls are not corrupted as 'tis thought.</li>
  <li class="number">For two and twenty sons I never wept,</li>
  <li>Because they died in honour's lofty bed.</li>
  <li class="stage-direction">Lieth down; the Judges, &c., pass by him, and Exeunt</li>
  <li>For these, these, tribunes, in the dust I write</li>
  <li>My heart's deep languor and my soul's sad tears:</li>
  <li>Let my tears stanch the earth's dry appetite;</li>
  <li class="number">My sons' sweet blood will make it shame and blush.</li>
  <li>O earth, I will befriend thee more with rain,</li>
  <li>That shall distil from these two ancient urns,</li>
  <li>Than youthful April shall with all his showers:</li>
  <li>In summer's drought I'll drop upon thee still;</li>
  <li class="number">In winter with warm tears I'll melt the snow</li>
  <li>And keep eternal spring-time on thy face,</li>
  <li>So thou refuse to drink my dear sons' blood.</li>
  <li class="stage-direction">Enter LUCIUS, with his sword drawn</li>
  <li>O reverend tribunes! O gentle, aged men!</li>
  <li>Unbind my sons, reverse the doom of death;</li>
  <li class="number">And let me say, that never wept before,</li>
  <li>My tears are now prevailing orators.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LUCIUS</li>
  <li>O noble father, you lament in vain:</li>
  <li>The tribunes hear you not; no man is by;</li>
  <li>And you recount your sorrows to a stone.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li class="number">Ah, Lucius, for thy brothers let me plead.</li>
  <li>Grave tribunes, once more I entreat of you —  </li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LUCIUS</li>
  <li>My gracious lord, no tribune hears you speak.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>Why, tis no matter, man; if they did hear,</li>
  <li>They would not mark me, or if they did mark,</li>
  <li class="number">They would not pity me, yet plead I must;</li>
  <li>And bootless unto them.</li>
  <li>Therefore I tell my sorrows to the stones;</li>
  <li>Who, though they cannot answer my distress,</li>
  <li>Yet in some sort they are better than the tribunes,</li>
  <li class="number">For that they will not intercept my tale:</li>
  <li>When I do weep, they humbly at my feet</li>
  <li>Receive my tears and seem to weep with me;</li>
  <li>And, were they but attired in grave weeds,</li>
  <li>Rome could afford no tribune like to these.</li>
  <li class="number">A stone is soft as wax —  tribunes more hard than stones;</li>
  <li>A stone is silent, and offendeth not,</li>
  <li>And tribunes with their tongues doom men to death.</li>
  <li class="stage-direction">Rises</li>
  <li>But wherefore stand'st thou with thy weapon drawn?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LUCIUS</li>
  <li>To rescue my two brothers from their death:</li>
  <li class="number">For which attempt the judges have pronounced</li>
  <li>My everlasting doom of banishment.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>O happy man! they have befriended thee.</li>
  <li>Why, foolish Lucius, dost thou not perceive</li>
  <li>That Rome is but a wilderness of tigers?</li>
  <li class="number">Tigers must prey, and Rome affords no prey</li>
  <li>But me and mine: how happy art thou, then,</li>
  <li>From these devourers to be banished!</li>
  <li>But who comes with our brother Marcus here?</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Enter MARCUS and LAVINIA</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MARCUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>Titus, prepare thy aged eyes to weep;</li>
  <li class="number">Or, if not so, thy noble heart to break:</li>
  <li>I bring consuming sorrow to thine age.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>Will it consume me? let me see it, then.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MARCUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>This was thy daughter.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>Why, Marcus, so she is.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LUCIUS</li>
  <li class="number">Ay me, this object kills me!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>Faint-hearted boy, arise, and look upon her.</li>
  <li>Speak, Lavinia, what accursed hand</li>
  <li>Hath made thee handless in thy father's sight?</li>
  <li>What fool hath added water to the sea,</li>
  <li class="number">Or brought a faggot to bright-burning Troy?</li>
  <li>My grief was at the height before thou camest,</li>
  <li>And now like Nilus, it disdaineth bounds.</li>
  <li>Give me a sword, I'll chop off my hands too;</li>
  <li>For they have fought for Rome, and all in vain;</li>
  <li class="number">And they have nursed this woe, in feeding life;</li>
  <li>In bootless prayer have they been held up,</li>
  <li>And they have served me to effectless use:</li>
  <li>Now all the service I require of them</li>
  <li>Is that the one will help to cut the other.</li>
  <li class="number">'Tis well, Lavinia, that thou hast no hands;</li>
  <li>For hands, to do Rome service, are but vain.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LUCIUS</li>
  <li>Speak, gentle sister, who hath martyr'd thee?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MARCUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>O, that delightful engine of her thoughts</li>
  <li>That blabb'd them with such pleasing eloquence,</li>
  <li class="number">Is torn from forth that pretty hollow cage,</li>
  <li>Where, like a sweet melodious bird, it sung</li>
  <li>Sweet varied notes, enchanting every ear!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LUCIUS</li>
  <li>O, say thou for her, who hath done this deed?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MARCUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>O, thus I found her, straying in the park,</li>
  <li class="number">Seeking to hide herself, as doth the deer</li>
  <li>That hath received some unrecuring wound.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>It was my deer; and he that wounded her</li>
  <li>Hath hurt me more than had he killed me dead:</li>
  <li>For now I stand as one upon a rock</li>
  <li class="number">Environed with a wilderness of sea,</li>
  <li>Who marks the waxing tide grow wave by wave,</li>
  <li>Expecting ever when some envious surge</li>
  <li>Will in his brinish bowels swallow him.</li>
  <li>This way to death my wretched sons are gone;</li>
  <li class="number">Here stands my other son, a banished man,</li>
  <li>And here my brother, weeping at my woes.</li>
  <li>But that which gives my soul the greatest spurn,</li>
  <li>Is dear Lavinia, dearer than my soul.</li>
  <li>Had I but seen thy picture in this plight,</li>
  <li class="number">It would have madded me: what shall I do</li>
  <li>Now I behold thy lively body so?</li>
  <li>Thou hast no hands, to wipe away thy tears:</li>
  <li>Nor tongue, to tell me who hath martyr'd thee:</li>
  <li>Thy husband he is dead: and for his death</li>
  <li class="number">Thy brothers are condemn'd, and dead by this.</li>
  <li>Look, Marcus! ah, son Lucius, look on her!</li>
  <li>When I did name her brothers, then fresh tears</li>
  <li>Stood on her cheeks, as doth the honey-dew</li>
  <li>Upon a gather'd lily almost wither'd.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MARCUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li class="number">Perchance she weeps because they kill'd her husband;</li>
  <li>Perchance because she knows them innocent.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>If they did kill thy husband, then be joyful</li>
  <li>Because the law hath ta'en revenge on them.</li>
  <li>No, no, they would not do so foul a deed;</li>
  <li class="number">Witness the sorrow that their sister makes.</li>
  <li>Gentle Lavinia, let me kiss thy lips.</li>
  <li>Or make some sign how I may do thee ease:</li>
  <li>Shall thy good uncle, and thy brother Lucius,</li>
  <li>And thou, and I, sit round about some fountain,</li>
  <li class="number">Looking all downwards to behold our cheeks</li>
  <li>How they are stain'd, as meadows, yet not dry,</li>
  <li>With miry slime left on them by a flood?</li>
  <li>And in the fountain shall we gaze so long</li>
  <li>Till the fresh taste be taken from that clearness,</li>
  <li class="number">And made a brine-pit with our bitter tears?</li>
  <li>Or shall we cut away our hands, like thine?</li>
  <li>Or shall we bite our tongues, and in dumb shows</li>
  <li>Pass the remainder of our hateful days?</li>
  <li>What shall we do? let us, that have our tongues,</li>
  <li class="number">Plot some deuce of further misery,</li>
  <li>To make us wonder'd at in time to come.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LUCIUS</li>
  <li>Sweet father, cease your tears; for, at your grief,</li>
  <li>See how my wretched sister sobs and weeps.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MARCUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>Patience, dear niece. Good Titus, dry thine eyes.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li class="number">Ah, Marcus, Marcus! brother, well I wot</li>
  <li>Thy napkin cannot drink a tear of mine,</li>
  <li>For thou, poor man, hast drown'd it with thine own.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LUCIUS</li>
  <li>Ah, my Lavinia, I will wipe thy cheeks.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>Mark, Marcus, mark! I understand her signs:</li>
  <li class="number">Had she a tongue to speak, now would she say</li>
  <li>That to her brother which I said to thee:</li>
  <li>His napkin, with his true tears all bewet,</li>
  <li>Can do no service on her sorrowful cheeks.</li>
  <li>O, what a sympathy of woe is this,</li>
  <li class="number">As far from help as Limbo is from bliss!</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Enter AARON</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">AARON</li>
  <li>Titus Andronicus, my lord the emperor</li>
  <li>Sends thee this word —  that, if thou love thy sons,</li>
  <li>Let Marcus, Lucius, or thyself, old Titus,</li>
  <li>Or any one of you, chop off your hand,</li>
  <li class="number">And send it to the king: he for the same</li>
  <li>Will send thee hither both thy sons alive;</li>
  <li>And that shall be the ransom for their fault.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>O gracious emperor! O gentle Aaron!</li>
  <li>Did ever raven sing so like a lark,</li>
  <li class="number">That gives sweet tidings of the sun's uprise?</li>
  <li>With all my heart, I'll send the emperor My hand:</li>
  <li>Good Aaron, wilt thou help to chop it off?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LUCIUS</li>
  <li>Stay, father! for that noble hand of thine,</li>
  <li>That hath thrown down so many enemies,</li>
  <li class="number">Shall not be sent: my hand will serve the turn:</li>
  <li>My youth can better spare my blood than you;</li>
  <li>And therefore mine shall save my brothers' lives.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MARCUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>Which of your hands hath not defended Rome,</li>
  <li>And rear'd aloft the bloody battle-axe,</li>
  <li class="number">Writing destruction on the enemy's castle?</li>
  <li>O, none of both but are of high desert:</li>
  <li>My hand hath been but idle; let it serve</li>
  <li>To ransom my two nephews from their death;</li>
  <li>Then have I kept it to a worthy end.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">AARON</li>
  <li class="number">Nay, come, agree whose hand shall go along,</li>
  <li>For fear they die before their pardon come.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MARCUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>My hand shall go.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LUCIUS</li>
  <li>By heaven, it shall not go!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>Sirs, strive no more: such wither'd herbs as these</li>
  <li class="number">Are meet for plucking up, and therefore mine.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LUCIUS</li>
  <li>Sweet father, if I shall be thought thy son,</li>
  <li>Let me redeem my brothers both from death.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MARCUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>And, for our father's sake and mother's care,</li>
  <li>Now let me show a brother's love to thee.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li class="number">Agree between you; I will spare my hand.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LUCIUS</li>
  <li>Then I'll go fetch an axe.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MARCUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>But I will use the axe.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Exeunt LUCIUS and MARCUS</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>Come hither, Aaron; I'll deceive them both:</li>
  <li>Lend me thy hand, and I will give thee mine.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">AARON</li>
  <li class="number">Aside  If that be call'd deceit, I will be honest,</li>
  <li>And never, whilst I live, deceive men so:</li>
  <li>But I'll deceive you in another sort,</li>
  <li>And that you'll say, ere half an hour pass.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Cuts off TITUS's hand</div>

<div class="stage-direction">Re-enter LUCIUS and MARCUS</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>Now stay your strife: what shall be is dispatch'd.</li>
  <li class="number">Good Aaron, give his majesty my hand:</li>
  <li>Tell him it was a hand that warded him</li>
  <li>From thousand dangers; bid him bury it</li>
  <li>More hath it merited; that let it have.</li>
  <li>As for my sons, say I account of them</li>
  <li class="number">As jewels purchased at an easy price;</li>
  <li>And yet dear too, because I bought mine own.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">AARON</li>
  <li>I go, Andronicus: and for thy hand</li>
  <li>Look by and by to have thy sons with thee.</li>
  <li class="stage-direction">Aside</li>
  <li>Their heads, I mean. O, how this villany</li>
  <li class="number">Doth fat me with the very thoughts of it!</li>
  <li>Let fools do good, and fair men call for grace.</li>
  <li>Aaron will have his soul black like his face.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Exit</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>O, here I lift this one hand up to heaven,</li>
  <li>And bow this feeble ruin to the earth:</li>
  <li class="number">If any power pities wretched tears,</li>
  <li>To that I call!</li>
  <li class="stage-direction">To LAVINIA</li>
  <li>What, wilt thou kneel with me?</li>
  <li>Do, then, dear heart; for heaven shall hear our prayers;</li>
  <li>Or with our sighs we'll breathe the welkin dim,</li>
  <li class="number">And stain the sun with fog, as sometime clouds</li>
  <li>When they do hug him in their melting bosoms.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MARCUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>O brother, speak with possibilities,</li>
  <li>And do not break into these deep extremes.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>Is not my sorrow deep, having no bottom?</li>
  <li class="number">Then be my passions bottomless with them.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MARCUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>But yet let reason govern thy lament.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>If there were reason for these miseries,</li>
  <li>Then into limits could I bind my woes:</li>
  <li>When heaven doth weep, doth not the earth o'erflow?</li>
  <li class="number">If the winds rage, doth not the sea wax mad,</li>
  <li>Threatening the welkin with his big-swoln face?</li>
  <li>And wilt thou have a reason for this coil?</li>
  <li>I am the sea; hark, how her sighs do blow!</li>
  <li>She is the weeping welkin, I the earth:</li>
  <li class="number">Then must my sea be moved with her sighs;</li>
  <li>Then must my earth with her continual tears</li>
  <li>Become a deluge, overflow'd and drown'd;</li>
  <li>For why my bowels cannot hide her woes,</li>
  <li>But like a drunkard must I vomit them.</li>
  <li class="number">Then give me leave, for losers will have leave</li>
  <li>To ease their stomachs with their bitter tongues.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Enter a Messenger, with two heads and a hand</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">Messenger</li>
  <li>Worthy Andronicus, ill art thou repaid</li>
  <li>For that good hand thou sent'st the emperor.</li>
  <li>Here are the heads of thy two noble sons;</li>
  <li class="number">And here's thy hand, in scorn to thee sent back;</li>
  <li>Thy griefs their sports, thy resolution mock'd;</li>
  <li>That woe is me to think upon thy woes</li>
  <li>More than remembrance of my father's death.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Exit</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MARCUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>Now let hot AEtna cool in Sicily,</li>
  <li class="number">And be my heart an ever-burning hell!</li>
  <li>These miseries are more than may be borne.</li>
  <li>To weep with them that weep doth ease some deal;</li>
  <li>But sorrow flouted at is double death.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LUCIUS</li>
  <li>Ah, that this sight should make so deep a wound,</li>
  <li class="number">And yet detested life not shrink thereat!</li>
  <li>That ever death should let life bear his name,</li>
  <li>Where life hath no more interest but to breathe!</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">LAVINIA kisses TITUS</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MARCUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>Alas, poor heart, that kiss is comfortless</li>
  <li>As frozen water to a starved snake.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li class="number">When will this fearful slumber have an end?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MARCUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>Now, farewell, flattery: die, Andronicus;</li>
  <li>Thou dost not slumber: see, thy two sons' heads,</li>
  <li>Thy warlike hand, thy mangled daughter here:</li>
  <li>Thy other banish'd son, with this dear sight</li>
  <li class="number">Struck pale and bloodless; and thy brother, I,</li>
  <li>Even like a stony image, cold and numb.</li>
  <li>Ah, now no more will I control thy griefs:</li>
  <li>Rend off thy silver hair, thy other hand</li>
  <li>Gnawing with thy teeth; and be this dismal sight</li>
  <li class="number">The closing up of our most wretched eyes;</li>
  <li>Now is a time to storm; why art thou still?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>Ha, ha, ha!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MARCUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>Why dost thou laugh? it fits not with this hour.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>Why, I have not another tear to shed:</li>
  <li class="number">Besides, this sorrow is an enemy,</li>
  <li>And would usurp upon my watery eyes</li>
  <li>And make them blind with tributary tears:</li>
  <li>Then which way shall I find Revenge's cave?</li>
  <li>For these two heads do seem to speak to me,</li>
  <li class="number">And threat me I shall never come to bliss</li>
  <li>Till all these mischiefs be return'd again</li>
  <li>Even in their throats that have committed them.</li>
  <li>Come, let me see what task I have to do.</li>
  <li>You heavy people, circle me about,</li>
  <li class="number">That I may turn me to each one of you,</li>
  <li>And swear unto my soul to right your wrongs.</li>
  <li>The vow is made. Come, brother, take a head;</li>
  <li>And in this hand the other I will bear.</li>
  <li>Lavinia, thou shalt be employ'd: these arms!</li>
  <li class="number">Bear thou my hand, sweet wench, between thy teeth.</li>
  <li>As for thee, boy, go get thee from my sight;</li>
  <li>Thou art an exile, and thou must not stay:</li>
  <li>Hie to the Goths, and raise an army there:</li>
  <li>And, if you love me, as I think you do,</li>
  <li class="number">Let's kiss and part, for we have much to do.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Exeunt TITUS, MARCUS, and LAVINIA</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LUCIUS</li>
  <li>Farewell Andronicus, my noble father,</li>
  <li>The wofull'st man that ever lived in Rome:</li>
  <li>Farewell, proud Rome; till Lucius come again,</li>
  <li>He leaves his pledges dearer than his life:</li>
  <li class="number">Farewell, Lavinia, my noble sister;</li>
  <li>O, would thou wert as thou tofore hast been!</li>
  <li>But now nor Lucius nor Lavinia lives</li>
  <li>But in oblivion and hateful griefs.</li>
  <li>If Lucius live, he will requite your wrongs;</li>
  <li class="number">And make proud Saturnine and his empress</li>
  <li>Beg at the gates, like Tarquin and his queen.</li>
  <li>Now will I to the Goths, and raise a power,</li>
  <li>To be revenged on Rome and Saturnine.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Exit</div>

</section>

<section class="scene">

<h3>SCENE II.  A room in Titus's house. A banquet set out.</h3>

<div class="stage-direction">Enter TITUS, MARCUS, LAVINIA and Young LUCIUS, a boy</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>So, so; now sit: and look you eat no more</li>
  <li>Than will preserve just so much strength in us</li>
  <li>As will revenge these bitter woes of ours.</li>
  <li>Marcus, unknit that sorrow-wreathen knot:</li>
  <li class="number">Thy niece and I, poor creatures, want our hands,</li>
  <li>And cannot passionate our tenfold grief</li>
  <li>With folded arms. This poor right hand of mine</li>
  <li>Is left to tyrannize upon my breast;</li>
  <li>Who, when my heart, all mad with misery,</li>
  <li class="number">Beats in this hollow prison of my flesh,</li>
  <li>Then thus I thump it down.</li>
  <li class="stage-direction">To LAVINIA</li>
  <li>Thou map of woe, that thus dost talk in signs!</li>
  <li>When thy poor heart beats with outrageous beating,</li>
  <li>Thou canst not strike it thus to make it still.</li>
  <li class="number">Wound it with sighing, girl, kill it with groans;</li>
  <li>Or get some little knife between thy teeth,</li>
  <li>And just against thy heart make thou a hole;</li>
  <li>That all the tears that thy poor eyes let fall</li>
  <li>May run into that sink, and soaking in</li>
  <li class="number">Drown the lamenting fool in sea-salt tears.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MARCUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>Fie, brother, fie! teach her not thus to lay</li>
  <li>Such violent hands upon her tender life.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>How now! has sorrow made thee dote already?</li>
  <li>Why, Marcus, no man should be mad but I.</li>
  <li class="number">What violent hands can she lay on her life?</li>
  <li>Ah, wherefore dost thou urge the name of hands;</li>
  <li>To bid AEneas tell the tale twice o'er,</li>
  <li>How Troy was burnt and he made miserable?</li>
  <li>O, handle not the theme, to talk of hands,</li>
  <li class="number">Lest we remember still that we have none.</li>
  <li>Fie, fie, how franticly I square my talk,</li>
  <li>As if we should forget we had no hands,</li>
  <li>If Marcus did not name the word of hands!</li>
  <li>Come, let's fall to; and, gentle girl, eat this:</li>
  <li class="number">Here is no drink! Hark, Marcus, what she says;</li>
  <li>I can interpret all her martyr'd signs;</li>
  <li>She says she drinks no other drink but tears,</li>
  <li>Brew'd with her sorrow, mesh'd upon her cheeks:</li>
  <li>Speechless complainer, I will learn thy thought;</li>
  <li class="number">In thy dumb action will I be as perfect</li>
  <li>As begging hermits in their holy prayers:</li>
  <li>Thou shalt not sigh, nor hold thy stumps to heaven,</li>
  <li>Nor wink, nor nod, nor kneel, nor make a sign,</li>
  <li>But I of these will wrest an alphabet</li>
  <li class="number">And by still practise learn to know thy meaning.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">Young LUCIUS</li>
  <li>Good grandsire, leave these bitter deep laments:</li>
  <li>Make my aunt merry with some pleasing tale.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MARCUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>Alas, the tender boy, in passion moved,</li>
  <li>Doth weep to see his grandsire's heaviness.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li class="number">Peace, tender sapling; thou art made of tears,</li>
  <li>And tears will quickly melt thy life away.</li>
  <li class="stage-direction">MARCUS strikes the dish with a knife</li>
  <li>What dost thou strike at, Marcus, with thy knife?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MARCUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>At that that I have kill'd, my lord; a fly.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>Out on thee, murderer! thou kill'st my heart;</li>
  <li class="number">Mine eyes are cloy'd with view of tyranny:</li>
  <li>A deed of death done on the innocent</li>
  <li>Becomes not Titus' brother: get thee gone:</li>
  <li>I see thou art not for my company.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MARCUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>Alas, my lord, I have but kill'd a fly.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li class="number">But how, if that fly had a father and mother?</li>
  <li>How would he hang his slender gilded wings,</li>
  <li>And buzz lamenting doings in the air!</li>
  <li>Poor harmless fly,</li>
  <li>That, with his pretty buzzing melody,</li>
  <li class="number">Came here to make us merry! and thou hast</li>
  <li>kill'd him.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MARCUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>Pardon me, sir; it was a black ill-favor'd fly,</li>
  <li>Like to the empress' Moor; therefore I kill'd him.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>O, O, O,</li>
  <li class="number">Then pardon me for reprehending thee,</li>
  <li>For thou hast done a charitable deed.</li>
  <li>Give me thy knife, I will insult on him;</li>
  <li>Flattering myself, as if it were the Moor</li>
  <li>Come hither purposely to poison me. — </li>
  <li class="number">There's for thyself, and that's for Tamora.</li>
  <li>Ah, sirrah!</li>
  <li>Yet, I think, we are not brought so low,</li>
  <li>But that between us we can kill a fly</li>
  <li>That comes in likeness of a coal-black Moor.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MARCUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li class="number">Alas, poor man! grief has so wrought on him,</li>
  <li>He takes false shadows for true substances.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>Come, take away. Lavinia, go with me:</li>
  <li>I'll to thy closet; and go read with thee</li>
  <li>Sad stories chanced in the times of old.</li>
  <li class="number">Come, boy, and go with me: thy sight is young,</li>
  <li>And thou shalt read when mine begin to dazzle.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Exeunt</div>

</section>

</section>

<section class="act">

<h2>ACT IV</h2>

<section class="scene">

<h3>SCENE I.  Rome. Titus's garden.</h3>

<div class="stage-direction">Enter young LUCIUS, and LAVINIA running after him,
and the boy flies from her, with books under his
arm. Then enter TITUS and MARCUS</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">Young LUCIUS</li>
  <li>Help, grandsire, help! my aunt Lavinia</li>
  <li>Follows me every where, I know not why:</li>
  <li>Good uncle Marcus, see how swift she comes.</li>
  <li>Alas, sweet aunt, I know not what you mean.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MARCUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li class="number">Stand by me, Lucius; do not fear thine aunt.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>She loves thee, boy, too well to do thee harm.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">Young LUCIUS</li>
  <li>Ay, when my father was in Rome she did.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MARCUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>What means my niece Lavinia by these signs?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>Fear her not, Lucius: somewhat doth she mean:</li>
  <li class="number">See, Lucius, see how much she makes of thee:</li>
  <li>Somewhither would she have thee go with her.</li>
  <li>Ah, boy, Cornelia never with more care</li>
  <li>Read to her sons than she hath read to thee</li>
  <li>Sweet poetry and Tully's Orator.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MARCUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li class="number">Canst thou not guess wherefore she plies thee thus?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">Young LUCIUS</li>
  <li>My lord, I know not, I, nor can I guess,</li>
  <li>Unless some fit or frenzy do possess her:</li>
  <li>For I have heard my grandsire say full oft,</li>
  <li>Extremity of griefs would make men mad;</li>
  <li class="number">And I have read that Hecuba of Troy</li>
  <li>Ran mad through sorrow: that made me to fear;</li>
  <li>Although, my lord, I know my noble aunt</li>
  <li>Loves me as dear as e'er my mother did,</li>
  <li>And would not, but in fury, fright my youth:</li>
  <li class="number">Which made me down to throw my books, and fly — </li>
  <li>Causeless, perhaps. But pardon me, sweet aunt:</li>
  <li>And, madam, if my uncle Marcus go,</li>
  <li>I will most willingly attend your ladyship.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MARCUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>Lucius, I will.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">LAVINIA turns over with her stumps the books which
LUCIUS has let fall</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li class="number">How now, Lavinia! Marcus, what means this?</li>
  <li>Some book there is that she desires to see.</li>
  <li>Which is it, girl, of these? Open them, boy.</li>
  <li>But thou art deeper read, and better skill'd</li>
  <li>Come, and take choice of all my library,</li>
  <li class="number">And so beguile thy sorrow, till the heavens</li>
  <li>Reveal the damn'd contriver of this deed.</li>
  <li>Why lifts she up her arms in sequence thus?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MARCUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>I think she means that there was more than one</li>
  <li>Confederate in the fact: ay, more there was;</li>
  <li class="number">Or else to heaven she heaves them for revenge.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>Lucius, what book is that she tosseth so?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">Young LUCIUS</li>
  <li>Grandsire, 'tis Ovid's Metamorphoses;</li>
  <li>My mother gave it me.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MARCUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>For love of her that's gone,</li>
  <li class="number">Perhaps she cull'd it from among the rest.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>Soft! see how busily she turns the leaves!</li>
  <li class="stage-direction">Helping her</li>
  <li>What would she find? Lavinia, shall I read?</li>
  <li>This is the tragic tale of Philomel,</li>
  <li>And treats of Tereus' treason and his rape:</li>
  <li class="number">And rape, I fear, was root of thine annoy.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MARCUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>See, brother, see; note how she quotes the leaves.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>Lavinia, wert thou thus surprised, sweet girl,</li>
  <li>Ravish'd and wrong'd, as Philomela was,</li>
  <li>Forced in the ruthless, vast, and gloomy woods? See, see!</li>
  <li class="number">Ay, such a place there is, where we did hunt — </li>
  <li>O, had we never, never hunted there! — </li>
  <li>Pattern'd by that the poet here describes,</li>
  <li>By nature made for murders and for rapes.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MARCUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>O, why should nature build so foul a den,</li>
  <li class="number">Unless the gods delight in tragedies?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>Give signs, sweet girl, for here are none</li>
  <li>but friends,</li>
  <li>What Roman lord it was durst do the deed:</li>
  <li>Or slunk not Saturnine, as Tarquin erst,</li>
  <li class="number">That left the camp to sin in Lucrece' bed?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MARCUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>Sit down, sweet niece: brother, sit down by me.</li>
  <li>Apollo, Pallas, Jove, or Mercury,</li>
  <li>Inspire me, that I may this treason find!</li>
  <li>My lord, look here: look here, Lavinia:</li>
  <li class="number">This sandy plot is plain; guide, if thou canst</li>
  <li>This after me, when I have writ my name</li>
  <li>Without the help of any hand at all.</li>
  <li class="stage-direction">He writes his name with his staff, and guides it
with feet and mouth</li>
  <li>Cursed be that heart that forced us to this shift!</li>
  <li>Write thou good niece; and here display, at last,</li>
  <li class="number">What God will have discover'd for revenge;</li>
  <li>Heaven guide thy pen to print thy sorrows plain,</li>
  <li>That we may know the traitors and the truth!</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">She takes the staff in her mouth, and guides it
with her stumps, and writes</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>O, do ye read, my lord, what she hath writ?</li>
  <li>'Stuprum. Chiron. Demetrius.'</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MARCUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li class="number">What, what! the lustful sons of Tamora</li>
  <li>Performers of this heinous, bloody deed?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>Magni Dominator poli,</li>
  <li>Tam lentus audis scelera? tam lentus vides?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MARCUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>O, calm thee, gentle lord; although I know</li>
  <li class="number">There is enough written upon this earth</li>
  <li>To stir a mutiny in the mildest thoughts</li>
  <li>And arm the minds of infants to exclaims.</li>
  <li>My lord, kneel down with me; Lavinia, kneel;</li>
  <li>And kneel, sweet boy, the Roman Hector's hope;</li>
  <li class="number">And swear with me, as, with the woful fere</li>
  <li>And father of that chaste dishonour'd dame,</li>
  <li>Lord Junius Brutus sware for Lucrece' rape,</li>
  <li>That we will prosecute by good advice</li>
  <li>Mortal revenge upon these traitorous Goths,</li>
  <li class="number">And see their blood, or die with this reproach.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>'Tis sure enough, an you knew how.</li>
  <li>But if you hunt these bear-whelps, then beware:</li>
  <li>The dam will wake; and, if she wind you once,</li>
  <li>She's with the lion deeply still in league,</li>
  <li class="number">And lulls him whilst she playeth on her back,</li>
  <li>And when he sleeps will she do what she list.</li>
  <li>You are a young huntsman, Marcus; let it alone;</li>
  <li>And, come, I will go get a leaf of brass,</li>
  <li>And with a gad of steel will write these words,</li>
  <li class="number">And lay it by: the angry northern wind</li>
  <li>Will blow these sands, like Sibyl's leaves, abroad,</li>
  <li>And where's your lesson, then? Boy, what say you?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">Young LUCIUS</li>
  <li>I say, my lord, that if I were a man,</li>
  <li>Their mother's bed-chamber should not be safe</li>
  <li class="number">For these bad bondmen to the yoke of Rome.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MARCUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>Ay, that's my boy! thy father hath full oft</li>
  <li>For his ungrateful country done the like.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">Young LUCIUS</li>
  <li>And, uncle, so will I, an if I live.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>Come, go with me into mine armoury;</li>
  <li class="number">Lucius, I'll fit thee; and withal, my boy,</li>
  <li>Shalt carry from me to the empress' sons</li>
  <li>Presents that I intend to send them both:</li>
  <li>Come, come; thou'lt do thy message, wilt thou not?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">Young LUCIUS</li>
  <li>Ay, with my dagger in their bosoms, grandsire.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li class="number">No, boy, not so; I'll teach thee another course.</li>
  <li>Lavinia, come. Marcus, look to my house:</li>
  <li>Lucius and I'll go brave it at the court:</li>
  <li>Ay, marry, will we, sir; and we'll be waited on.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Exeunt TITUS, LAVINIA, and Young LUCIUS</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MARCUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>O heavens, can you hear a good man groan,</li>
  <li class="number">And not relent, or not compassion him?</li>
  <li>Marcus, attend him in his ecstasy,</li>
  <li>That hath more scars of sorrow in his heart</li>
  <li>Than foemen's marks upon his batter'd shield;</li>
  <li>But yet so just that he will not revenge.</li>
  <li class="number">Revenge, ye heavens, for old Andronicus!</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Exit</div>

</section>

<section class="scene">

<h3>SCENE II.  The same. A room in the palace.</h3>

<div class="stage-direction">Enter, from one side, AARON, DEMETRIUS, and
CHIRON; from the other side, Young LUCIUS, and an
Attendant, with a bundle of weapons, and verses
writ upon them</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">CHIRON</li>
  <li>Demetrius, here's the son of Lucius;</li>
  <li>He hath some message to deliver us.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">AARON</li>
  <li>Ay, some mad message from his mad grandfather.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">Young LUCIUS</li>
  <li>My lords, with all the humbleness I may,</li>
  <li class="number">I greet your honours from Andronicus.</li>
  <li class="stage-direction">Aside</li>
  <li>And pray the Roman gods confound you both!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DEMETRIUS</li>
  <li>Gramercy, lovely Lucius: what's the news?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">Young LUCIUS</li>
  <li>Aside  That you are both decipher'd, that's the news,</li>
  <li>For villains mark'd with rape. — May it please you,</li>
  <li class="number">My grandsire, well advised, hath sent by me</li>
  <li>The goodliest weapons of his armoury</li>
  <li>To gratify your honourable youth,</li>
  <li>The hope of Rome; for so he bade me say;</li>
  <li>And so I do, and with his gifts present</li>
  <li class="number">Your lordships, that, whenever you have need,</li>
  <li>You may be armed and appointed well:</li>
  <li>And so I leave you both:</li>
  <li class="stage-direction">Aside</li>
  <li>like bloody villains.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Exeunt Young LUCIUS, and Attendant</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DEMETRIUS</li>
  <li>What's here? A scroll; and written round about?</li>
  <li class="number">Let's see;</li>
  <li class="stage-direction">Reads</li>
  <li>'Integer vitae, scelerisque purus,</li>
  <li>Non eget Mauri jaculis, nec arcu.'</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">CHIRON</li>
  <li>O, 'tis a verse in Horace; I know it well:</li>
  <li>I read it in the grammar long ago.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">AARON</li>
  <li class="number">Ay, just; a verse in Horace; right, you have it.</li>
  <li class="stage-direction">Aside</li>
  <li>Now, what a thing it is to be an ass!</li>
  <li>Here's no sound jest! the old man hath found their guilt;</li>
  <li>And sends them weapons wrapped about with lines,</li>
  <li>That wound, beyond their feeling, to the quick.</li>
  <li class="number">But were our witty empress well afoot,</li>
  <li>She would applaud Andronicus' conceit:</li>
  <li>But let her rest in her unrest awhile.</li>
  <li>And now, young lords, was't not a happy star</li>
  <li>Led us to Rome, strangers, and more than so,</li>
  <li class="number">Captives, to be advanced to this height?</li>
  <li>It did me good, before the palace gate</li>
  <li>To brave the tribune in his brother's hearing.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DEMETRIUS</li>
  <li>But me more good, to see so great a lord</li>
  <li>Basely insinuate and send us gifts.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">AARON</li>
  <li class="number">Had he not reason, Lord Demetrius?</li>
  <li>Did you not use his daughter very friendly?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DEMETRIUS</li>
  <li>I would we had a thousand Roman dames</li>
  <li>At such a bay, by turn to serve our lust.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">CHIRON</li>
  <li>A charitable wish and full of love.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">AARON</li>
  <li class="number">Here lacks but your mother for to say amen.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">CHIRON</li>
  <li>And that would she for twenty thousand more.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DEMETRIUS</li>
  <li>Come, let us go; and pray to all the gods</li>
  <li>For our beloved mother in her pains.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">AARON</li>
  <li>Aside  Pray to the devils; the gods have given us over.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Trumpets sound within</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DEMETRIUS</li>
  <li class="number">Why do the emperor's trumpets flourish thus?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">CHIRON</li>
  <li>Belike, for joy the emperor hath a son.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DEMETRIUS</li>
  <li>Soft! who comes here?</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Enter a Nurse, with a blackamoor Child in her arms</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">Nurse</li>
  <li>Good morrow, lords:</li>
  <li>O, tell me, did you see Aaron the Moor?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">AARON</li>
  <li class="number">Well, more or less, or ne'er a whit at all,</li>
  <li>Here Aaron is; and what with Aaron now?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">Nurse</li>
  <li>O gentle Aaron, we are all undone!</li>
  <li>Now help, or woe betide thee evermore!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">AARON</li>
  <li>Why, what a caterwauling dost thou keep!</li>
  <li class="number">What dost thou wrap and fumble in thine arms?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">Nurse</li>
  <li>O, that which I would hide from heaven's eye,</li>
  <li>Our empress' shame, and stately Rome's disgrace!</li>
  <li>She is deliver'd, lords; she is deliver'd.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">AARON</li>
  <li>To whom?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">Nurse</li>
  <li class="number">I mean, she is brought a-bed.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">AARON</li>
  <li>Well, God give her good rest! What hath he sent her?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">Nurse</li>
  <li>A devil.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">AARON</li>
  <li>Why, then she is the devil's dam; a joyful issue.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">Nurse</li>
  <li>A joyless, dismal, black, and sorrowful issue:</li>
  <li class="number">Here is the babe, as loathsome as a toad</li>
  <li>Amongst the fairest breeders of our clime:</li>
  <li>The empress sends it thee, thy stamp, thy seal,</li>
  <li>And bids thee christen it with thy dagger's point.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">AARON</li>
  <li>'Zounds, ye whore! is black so base a hue?</li>
  <li class="number">Sweet blowse, you are a beauteous blossom, sure.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DEMETRIUS</li>
  <li>Villain, what hast thou done?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">AARON</li>
  <li>That which thou canst not undo.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">CHIRON</li>
  <li>Thou hast undone our mother.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">AARON</li>
  <li>Villain, I have done thy mother.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DEMETRIUS</li>
  <li class="number">And therein, hellish dog, thou hast undone.</li>
  <li>Woe to her chance, and damn'd her loathed choice!</li>
  <li>Accursed the offspring of so foul a fiend!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">CHIRON</li>
  <li>It shall not live.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">AARON</li>
  <li>It shall not die.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">Nurse</li>
  <li class="number">Aaron, it must; the mother wills it so.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">AARON</li>
  <li>What, must it, nurse? then let no man but I</li>
  <li>Do execution on my flesh and blood.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DEMETRIUS</li>
  <li>I'll broach the tadpole on my rapier's point:</li>
  <li>Nurse, give it me; my sword shall soon dispatch it.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">AARON</li>
  <li class="number">Sooner this sword shall plough thy bowels up.</li>
  <li class="stage-direction">Takes the Child from the Nurse, and draws</li>
  <li>Stay, murderous villains! will you kill your brother?</li>
  <li>Now, by the burning tapers of the sky,</li>
  <li>That shone so brightly when this boy was got,</li>
  <li>He dies upon my scimitar's sharp point</li>
  <li class="number">That touches this my first-born son and heir!</li>
  <li>I tell you, younglings, not Enceladus,</li>
  <li>With all his threatening band of Typhon's brood,</li>
  <li>Nor great Alcides, nor the god of war,</li>
  <li>Shall seize this prey out of his father's hands.</li>
  <li class="number">What, what, ye sanguine, shallow-hearted boys!</li>
  <li>Ye white-limed walls! ye alehouse painted signs!</li>
  <li>Coal-black is better than another hue,</li>
  <li>In that it scorns to bear another hue;</li>
  <li>For all the water in the ocean</li>
  <li class="number">Can never turn the swan's black legs to white,</li>
  <li>Although she lave them hourly in the flood.</li>
  <li>Tell the empress from me, I am of age</li>
  <li>To keep mine own, excuse it how she can.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DEMETRIUS</li>
  <li>Wilt thou betray thy noble mistress thus?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">AARON</li>
  <li class="number">My mistress is my mistress; this myself,</li>
  <li>The vigour and the picture of my youth:</li>
  <li>This before all the world do I prefer;</li>
  <li>This maugre all the world will I keep safe,</li>
  <li>Or some of you shall smoke for it in Rome.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DEMETRIUS</li>
  <li class="number">By this our mother is forever shamed.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">CHIRON</li>
  <li>Rome will despise her for this foul escape.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">Nurse</li>
  <li>The emperor, in his rage, will doom her death.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">CHIRON</li>
  <li>I blush to think upon this ignomy.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">AARON</li>
  <li>Why, there's the privilege your beauty bears:</li>
  <li class="number">Fie, treacherous hue, that will betray with blushing</li>
  <li>The close enacts and counsels of the heart!</li>
  <li>Here's a young lad framed of another leer:</li>
  <li>Look, how the black slave smiles upon the father,</li>
  <li>As who should say 'Old lad, I am thine own.'</li>
  <li class="number">He is your brother, lords, sensibly fed</li>
  <li>Of that self-blood that first gave life to you,</li>
  <li>And from that womb where you imprison'd were</li>
  <li>He is enfranchised and come to light:</li>
  <li>Nay, he is your brother by the surer side,</li>
  <li class="number">Although my seal be stamped in his face.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">Nurse</li>
  <li>Aaron, what shall I say unto the empress?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DEMETRIUS</li>
  <li>Advise thee, Aaron, what is to be done,</li>
  <li>And we will all subscribe to thy advice:</li>
  <li>Save thou the child, so we may all be safe.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">AARON</li>
  <li class="number">Then sit we down, and let us all consult.</li>
  <li>My son and I will have the wind of you:</li>
  <li>Keep there: now talk at pleasure of your safety.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">They sit</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DEMETRIUS</li>
  <li>How many women saw this child of his?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">AARON</li>
  <li>Why, so, brave lords! when we join in league,</li>
  <li class="number">I am a lamb: but if you brave the Moor,</li>
  <li>The chafed boar, the mountain lioness,</li>
  <li>The ocean swells not so as Aaron storms.</li>
  <li>But say, again; how many saw the child?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">Nurse</li>
  <li>Cornelia the midwife and myself;</li>
  <li class="number">And no one else but the deliver'd empress.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">AARON</li>
  <li>The empress, the midwife, and yourself:</li>
  <li>Two may keep counsel when the third's away:</li>
  <li>Go to the empress, tell her this I said.</li>
  <li class="stage-direction">He kills the nurse</li>
  <li>Weke, weke! so cries a pig prepared to the spit.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DEMETRIUS</li>
  <li class="number">What mean'st thou, Aaron? wherefore didst thou this?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">AARON</li>
  <li>O Lord, sir, 'tis a deed of policy:</li>
  <li>Shall she live to betray this guilt of ours,</li>
  <li>A long-tongued babbling gossip? no, lords, no:</li>
  <li>And now be it known to you my full intent.</li>
  <li class="number">Not far, one Muli lives, my countryman;</li>
  <li>His wife but yesternight was brought to bed;</li>
  <li>His child is like to her, fair as you are:</li>
  <li>Go pack with him, and give the mother gold,</li>
  <li>And tell them both the circumstance of all;</li>
  <li class="number">And how by this their child shall be advanced,</li>
  <li>And be received for the emperor's heir,</li>
  <li>And substituted in the place of mine,</li>
  <li>To calm this tempest whirling in the court;</li>
  <li>And let the emperor dandle him for his own.</li>
  <li class="number">Hark ye, lords; ye see I have given her physic,</li>
  <li class="stage-direction">Pointing to the nurse</li>
  <li>And you must needs bestow her funeral;</li>
  <li>The fields are near, and you are gallant grooms:</li>
  <li>This done, see that you take no longer days,</li>
  <li>But send the midwife presently to me.</li>
  <li class="number">The midwife and the nurse well made away,</li>
  <li>Then let the ladies tattle what they please.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">CHIRON</li>
  <li>Aaron, I see thou wilt not trust the air</li>
  <li>With secrets.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DEMETRIUS</li>
  <li>For this care of Tamora,</li>
  <li class="number">Herself and hers are highly bound to thee.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Exeunt DEMETRIUS and CHIRON bearing off the
Nurse's body</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">AARON</li>
  <li>Now to the Goths, as swift as swallow flies;</li>
  <li>There to dispose this treasure in mine arms,</li>
  <li>And secretly to greet the empress' friends.</li>
  <li>Come on, you thick lipp'd slave, I'll bear you hence;</li>
  <li class="number">For it is you that puts us to our shifts:</li>
  <li>I'll make you feed on berries and on roots,</li>
  <li>And feed on curds and whey, and suck the goat,</li>
  <li>And cabin in a cave, and bring you up</li>
  <li>To be a warrior, and command a camp.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Exit</div>

</section>

<section class="scene">

<h3>SCENE III.  The same. A public place.</h3>

<div class="stage-direction">Enter TITUS, bearing arrows with letters at the
ends of them; with him, MARCUS, Young LUCIUS,
PUBLIUS, SEMPRONIUS, CAIUS, and other Gentlemen,
with bows</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>Come, Marcus; come, kinsmen; this is the way.</li>
  <li>Sir boy, now let me see your archery;</li>
  <li>Look ye draw home enough, and 'tis there straight.</li>
  <li>Terras Astraea reliquit:</li>
  <li class="number">Be you remember'd, Marcus, she's gone, she's fled.</li>
  <li>Sirs, take you to your tools. You, cousins, shall</li>
  <li>Go sound the ocean, and cast your nets;</li>
  <li>Happily you may catch her in the sea;</li>
  <li>Yet there's as little justice as at land:</li>
  <li class="number">No; Publius and Sempronius, you must do it;</li>
  <li>'Tis you must dig with mattock and with spade,</li>
  <li>And pierce the inmost centre of the earth:</li>
  <li>Then, when you come to Pluto's region,</li>
  <li>I pray you, deliver him this petition;</li>
  <li class="number">Tell him, it is for justice and for aid,</li>
  <li>And that it comes from old Andronicus,</li>
  <li>Shaken with sorrows in ungrateful Rome.</li>
  <li>Ah, Rome! Well, well; I made thee miserable</li>
  <li>What time I threw the people's suffrages</li>
  <li class="number">On him that thus doth tyrannize o'er me.</li>
  <li>Go, get you gone; and pray be careful all,</li>
  <li>And leave you not a man-of-war unsearch'd:</li>
  <li>This wicked emperor may have shipp'd her hence;</li>
  <li>And, kinsmen, then we may go pipe for justice.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MARCUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li class="number">O Publius, is not this a heavy case,</li>
  <li>To see thy noble uncle thus distract?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">PUBLIUS</li>
  <li>Therefore, my lord, it highly us concerns</li>
  <li>By day and night to attend him carefully,</li>
  <li>And feed his humour kindly as we may,</li>
  <li class="number">Till time beget some careful remedy.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MARCUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>Kinsmen, his sorrows are past remedy.</li>
  <li>Join with the Goths; and with revengeful war</li>
  <li>Take wreak on Rome for this ingratitude,</li>
  <li>And vengeance on the traitor Saturnine.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li class="number">Publius, how now! how now, my masters!</li>
  <li>What, have you met with her?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">PUBLIUS</li>
  <li>No, my good lord; but Pluto sends you word,</li>
  <li>If you will have Revenge from hell, you shall:</li>
  <li>Marry, for Justice, she is so employ'd,</li>
  <li class="number">He thinks, with Jove in heaven, or somewhere else,</li>
  <li>So that perforce you must needs stay a time.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>He doth me wrong to feed me with delays.</li>
  <li>I'll dive into the burning lake below,</li>
  <li>And pull her out of Acheron by the heels.</li>
  <li class="number">Marcus, we are but shrubs, no cedars we</li>
  <li>No big-boned men framed of the Cyclops' size;</li>
  <li>But metal, Marcus, steel to the very back,</li>
  <li>Yet wrung with wrongs more than our backs can bear:</li>
  <li>And, sith there's no justice in earth nor hell,</li>
  <li class="number">We will solicit heaven and move the gods</li>
  <li>To send down Justice for to wreak our wrongs.</li>
  <li>Come, to this gear. You are a good archer, Marcus;</li>
  <li class="stage-direction">He gives them the arrows</li>
  <li>'Ad Jovem,' that's for you: here, 'Ad Apollinem:'</li>
  <li>'Ad Martem,' that's for myself:</li>
  <li class="number">Here, boy, to Pallas: here, to Mercury:</li>
  <li>To Saturn, Caius, not to Saturnine;</li>
  <li>You were as good to shoot against the wind.</li>
  <li>To it, boy! Marcus, loose when I bid.</li>
  <li>Of my word, I have written to effect;</li>
  <li class="number">There's not a god left unsolicited.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MARCUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>Kinsmen, shoot all your shafts into the court:</li>
  <li>We will afflict the emperor in his pride.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>Now, masters, draw.</li>
  <li class="stage-direction">They shoot</li>
  <li>O, well said, Lucius!</li>
  <li class="number">Good boy, in Virgo's lap; give it Pallas.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MARCUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>My lord, I aim a mile beyond the moon;</li>
  <li>Your letter is with Jupiter by this.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>Ha, ha!</li>
  <li>Publius, Publius, what hast thou done?</li>
  <li class="number">See, see, thou hast shot off one of Taurus' horns.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MARCUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>This was the sport, my lord: when Publius shot,</li>
  <li>The Bull, being gall'd, gave Aries such a knock</li>
  <li>That down fell both the Ram's horns in the court;</li>
  <li>And who should find them but the empress' villain?</li>
  <li class="number">She laugh'd, and told the Moor he should not choose</li>
  <li>But give them to his master for a present.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>Why, there it goes: God give his lordship joy!</li>
  <li class="stage-direction">Enter a Clown, with a basket, and two pigeons in
it</li>
  <li>News, news from heaven! Marcus, the post is come.</li>
  <li>Sirrah, what tidings? have you any letters?</li>
  <li class="number">Shall I have justice? what says Jupiter?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">Clown</li>
  <li>O, the gibbet-maker! he says that he hath taken</li>
  <li>them down again, for the man must not be hanged till</li>
  <li>the next week.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>But what says Jupiter, I ask thee?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">Clown</li>
  <li class="number">Alas, sir, I know not Jupiter; I never drank with him</li>
  <li>in all my life.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>Why, villain, art not thou the carrier?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">Clown</li>
  <li>Ay, of my pigeons, sir; nothing else.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>Why, didst thou not come from heaven?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">Clown</li>
  <li class="number">From heaven! alas, sir, I never came there     God</li>
  <li>forbid I should be so bold to press to heaven in my</li>
  <li>young days. Why, I am going with my pigeons to the</li>
  <li>tribunal plebs, to take up a matter of brawl</li>
  <li>betwixt my uncle and one of the emperial's men.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MARCUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li class="number">Why, sir, that is as fit as can be to serve for</li>
  <li>your oration; and let him deliver the pigeons to</li>
  <li>the emperor from you.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>Tell me, can you deliver an oration to the emperor</li>
  <li>with a grace?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">Clown</li>
  <li class="number">Nay, truly, sir, I could never say grace in all my life.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>Sirrah, come hither: make no more ado,</li>
  <li>But give your pigeons to the emperor:</li>
  <li>By me thou shalt have justice at his hands.</li>
  <li>Hold, hold; meanwhile here's money for thy charges.</li>
  <li class="number">Give me pen and ink. Sirrah, can you with a grace</li>
  <li>deliver a supplication?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">Clown</li>
  <li>Ay, sir.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>Then here is a supplication for you. And when you</li>
  <li>come to him, at the first approach you must kneel,</li>
  <li class="number">then kiss his foot, then deliver up your pigeons, and</li>
  <li>then look for your reward. I'll be at hand, sir; see</li>
  <li>you do it bravely.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">Clown</li>
  <li>I warrant you, sir, let me alone.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>Sirrah, hast thou a knife? come, let me see it.</li>
  <li class="number">Here, Marcus, fold it in the oration;</li>
  <li>For thou hast made it like an humble suppliant.</li>
  <li>And when thou hast given it the emperor,</li>
  <li>Knock at my door, and tell me what he says.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">Clown</li>
  <li>God be with you, sir; I will.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li class="number">Come, Marcus, let us go. Publius, follow me.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Exeunt</div>

</section>

<section class="scene">

<h3>SCENE IV.  The same. Before the palace.</h3>

<div class="stage-direction">Enter SATURNINUS, TAMORA, DEMETRIUS, CHIRON,
Lords, and others; SATURNINUS with the arrows in
his hand that TITUS shot</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">SATURNINUS</li>
  <li>Why, lords, what wrongs are these! was ever seen</li>
  <li>An emperor in Rome thus overborne,</li>
  <li>Troubled, confronted thus; and, for the extent</li>
  <li>Of egal justice, used in such contempt?</li>
  <li class="number">My lords, you know, as know the mightful gods,</li>
  <li>However these disturbers of our peace</li>
  <li>Buz in the people's ears, there nought hath pass'd,</li>
  <li>But even with law, against the willful sons</li>
  <li>Of old Andronicus. And what an if</li>
  <li class="number">His sorrows have so overwhelm'd his wits,</li>
  <li>Shall we be thus afflicted in his wreaks,</li>
  <li>His fits, his frenzy, and his bitterness?</li>
  <li>And now he writes to heaven for his redress:</li>
  <li>See, here's to Jove, and this to Mercury;</li>
  <li class="number">This to Apollo; this to the god of war;</li>
  <li>Sweet scrolls to fly about the streets of Rome!</li>
  <li>What's this but libelling against the senate,</li>
  <li>And blazoning our injustice every where?</li>
  <li>A goodly humour, is it not, my lords?</li>
  <li class="number">As who would say, in Rome no justice were.</li>
  <li>But if I live, his feigned ecstasies</li>
  <li>Shall be no shelter to these outrages:</li>
  <li>But he and his shall know that justice lives</li>
  <li>In Saturninus' health, whom, if she sleep,</li>
  <li class="number">He'll so awake as she in fury shall</li>
  <li>Cut off the proud'st conspirator that lives.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TAMORA</li>
  <li>My gracious lord, my lovely Saturnine,</li>
  <li>Lord of my life, commander of my thoughts,</li>
  <li>Calm thee, and bear the faults of Titus' age,</li>
  <li class="number">The effects of sorrow for his valiant sons,</li>
  <li>Whose loss hath pierced him deep and scarr'd his heart;</li>
  <li>And rather comfort his distressed plight</li>
  <li>Than prosecute the meanest or the best</li>
  <li>For these contempts.</li>
  <li class="stage-direction">Aside</li>
  <li class="number">Why, thus it shall become</li>
  <li>High-witted Tamora to gloze with all:</li>
  <li>But, Titus, I have touched thee to the quick,</li>
  <li>Thy life-blood out: if Aaron now be wise,</li>
  <li>Then is all safe, the anchor's in the port.</li>
  <li class="stage-direction">Enter Clown</li>
  <li class="number">How now, good fellow! wouldst thou speak with us?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">Clown</li>
  <li>Yea, forsooth, an your mistership be emperial.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TAMORA</li>
  <li>Empress I am, but yonder sits the emperor.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">Clown</li>
  <li>'Tis he. God and Saint Stephen give you good den:</li>
  <li>I have brought you a letter and a couple of pigeons here.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">SATURNINUS reads the letter</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">SATURNINUS</li>
  <li class="number">Go, take him away, and hang him presently.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">Clown</li>
  <li>How much money must I have?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TAMORA</li>
  <li>Come, sirrah, you must be hanged.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">Clown</li>
  <li>Hanged! by'r lady, then I have brought up a neck to</li>
  <li>a fair end.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Exit, guarded</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">SATURNINUS</li>
  <li class="number">Despiteful and intolerable wrongs!</li>
  <li>Shall I endure this monstrous villany?</li>
  <li>I know from whence this same device proceeds:</li>
  <li>May this be borne? — as if his traitorous sons,</li>
  <li>That died by law for murder of our brother,</li>
  <li class="number">Have by my means been butcher'd wrongfully!</li>
  <li>Go, drag the villain hither by the hair;</li>
  <li>Nor age nor honour shall shape privilege:</li>
  <li>For this proud mock I'll be thy slaughterman;</li>
  <li>Sly frantic wretch, that holp'st to make me great,</li>
  <li class="number">In hope thyself should govern Rome and me.</li>
  <li class="stage-direction">Enter AEMILIUS</li>
  <li>What news with thee, AEmilius?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">AEMILIUS</li>
  <li>Arm, arm, my lord; — Rome never had more cause.</li>
  <li>The Goths have gather'd head; and with a power</li>
  <li>high-resolved men, bent to the spoil,</li>
  <li class="number">They hither march amain, under conduct</li>
  <li>Of Lucius, son to old Andronicus;</li>
  <li>Who threats, in course of this revenge, to do</li>
  <li>As much as ever Coriolanus did.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">SATURNINUS</li>
  <li>Is warlike Lucius general of the Goths?</li>
  <li class="number">These tidings nip me, and I hang the head</li>
  <li>As flowers with frost or grass beat down with storms:</li>
  <li>Ay, now begin our sorrows to approach:</li>
  <li>'Tis he the common people love so much;</li>
  <li>Myself hath often over-heard them say,</li>
  <li class="number">When I have walked like a private man,</li>
  <li>That Lucius' banishment was wrongfully,</li>
  <li>And they have wish'd that Lucius were their emperor.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TAMORA</li>
  <li>Why should you fear? is not your city strong?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">SATURNINUS</li>
  <li>Ay, but the citizens favor Lucius,</li>
  <li class="number">And will revolt from me to succor him.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TAMORA</li>
  <li>King, be thy thoughts imperious, like thy name.</li>
  <li>Is the sun dimm'd, that gnats do fly in it?</li>
  <li>The eagle suffers little birds to sing,</li>
  <li>And is not careful what they mean thereby,</li>
  <li class="number">Knowing that with the shadow of his wings</li>
  <li>He can at pleasure stint their melody:</li>
  <li>Even so mayst thou the giddy men of Rome.</li>
  <li>Then cheer thy spirit : for know, thou emperor,</li>
  <li>I will enchant the old Andronicus</li>
  <li class="number">With words more sweet, and yet more dangerous,</li>
  <li>Than baits to fish, or honey-stalks to sheep,</li>
  <li>When as the one is wounded with the bait,</li>
  <li>The other rotted with delicious feed.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">SATURNINUS</li>
  <li>But he will not entreat his son for us.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TAMORA</li>
  <li class="number">If Tamora entreat him, then he will:</li>
  <li>For I can smooth and fill his aged ear</li>
  <li>With golden promises; that, were his heart</li>
  <li>Almost impregnable, his old ears deaf,</li>
  <li>Yet should both ear and heart obey my tongue.</li>
  <li class="stage-direction">To AEmilius</li>
  <li class="number">Go thou before, be our ambassador:</li>
  <li>Say that the emperor requests a parley</li>
  <li>Of warlike Lucius, and appoint the meeting</li>
  <li>Even at his father's house, the old Andronicus.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">SATURNINUS</li>
  <li>AEmilius, do this message honourably:</li>
  <li class="number">And if he stand on hostage for his safety,</li>
  <li>Bid him demand what pledge will please him best.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">AEMILIUS</li>
  <li>Your bidding shall I do effectually.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Exit</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TAMORA</li>
  <li>Now will I to that old Andronicus;</li>
  <li>And temper him with all the art I have,</li>
  <li class="number">To pluck proud Lucius from the warlike Goths.</li>
  <li>And now, sweet emperor, be blithe again,</li>
  <li>And bury all thy fear in my devices.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">SATURNINUS</li>
  <li>Then go successantly, and plead to him.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Exeunt</div>

</section>

</section>

<section class="act">

<h2>ACT V</h2>

<section class="scene">

<h3>SCENE I.  Plains near Rome.</h3>

<div class="stage-direction">Enter LUCIUS with an army of Goths, with drum and colours</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LUCIUS</li>
  <li>Approved warriors, and my faithful friends,</li>
  <li>I have received letters from great Rome,</li>
  <li>Which signify what hate they bear their emperor</li>
  <li>And how desirous of our sight they are.</li>
  <li class="number">Therefore, great lords, be, as your titles witness,</li>
  <li>Imperious and impatient of your wrongs,</li>
  <li>And wherein Rome hath done you any scath,</li>
  <li>Let him make treble satisfaction.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">First Goth</li>
  <li>Brave slip, sprung from the great Andronicus,</li>
  <li class="number">Whose name was once our terror, now our comfort;</li>
  <li>Whose high exploits and honourable deeds</li>
  <li>Ingrateful Rome requites with foul contempt,</li>
  <li>Be bold in us: we'll follow where thou lead'st,</li>
  <li>Like stinging bees in hottest summer's day</li>
  <li class="number">Led by their master to the flowered fields,</li>
  <li>And be avenged on cursed Tamora.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">All the Goths</li>
  <li>And as he saith, so say we all with him.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LUCIUS</li>
  <li>I humbly thank him, and I thank you all.</li>
  <li>But who comes here, led by a lusty Goth?</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Enter a Goth, leading AARON with his Child in his arms</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">Second Goth</li>
  <li class="number">Renowned Lucius, from our troops I stray'd</li>
  <li>To gaze upon a ruinous monastery;</li>
  <li>And, as I earnestly did fix mine eye</li>
  <li>Upon the wasted building, suddenly</li>
  <li>I heard a child cry underneath a wall.</li>
  <li class="number">I made unto the noise; when soon I heard</li>
  <li>The crying babe controll'd with this discourse:</li>
  <li>'Peace, tawny slave, half me and half thy dam!</li>
  <li>Did not thy hue bewray whose brat thou art,</li>
  <li>Had nature lent thee but thy mother's look,</li>
  <li class="number">Villain, thou mightst have been an emperor:</li>
  <li>But where the bull and cow are both milk-white,</li>
  <li>They never do beget a coal-black calf.</li>
  <li>Peace, villain, peace!' — even thus he rates</li>
  <li>the babe —  </li>
  <li class="number">'For I must bear thee to a trusty Goth;</li>
  <li>Who, when he knows thou art the empress' babe,</li>
  <li>Will hold thee dearly for thy mother's sake.'</li>
  <li>With this, my weapon drawn, I rush'd upon him,</li>
  <li>Surprised him suddenly, and brought him hither,</li>
  <li class="number">To use as you think needful of the man.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LUCIUS</li>
  <li>O worthy Goth, this is the incarnate devil</li>
  <li>That robb'd Andronicus of his good hand;</li>
  <li>This is the pearl that pleased your empress' eye,</li>
  <li>And here's the base fruit of his burning lust.</li>
  <li class="number">Say, wall-eyed slave, whither wouldst thou convey</li>
  <li>This growing image of thy fiend-like face?</li>
  <li>Why dost not speak? what, deaf? not a word?</li>
  <li>A halter, soldiers! hang him on this tree.</li>
  <li>And by his side his fruit of bastardy.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">AARON</li>
  <li class="number">Touch not the boy; he is of royal blood.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LUCIUS</li>
  <li>Too like the sire for ever being good.</li>
  <li>First hang the child, that he may see it sprawl;</li>
  <li>A sight to vex the father's soul withal.</li>
  <li>Get me a ladder.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">A ladder brought, which AARON is made to ascend</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">AARON</li>
  <li class="number">Lucius, save the child,</li>
  <li>And bear it from me to the empress.</li>
  <li>If thou do this, I'll show thee wondrous things,</li>
  <li>That highly may advantage thee to hear:</li>
  <li>If thou wilt not, befall what may befall,</li>
  <li class="number">I'll speak no more but 'Vengeance rot you all!'</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LUCIUS</li>
  <li>Say on: an if it please me which thou speak'st</li>
  <li>Thy child shall live, and I will see it nourish'd.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">AARON</li>
  <li>An if it please thee! why, assure thee, Lucius,</li>
  <li>'Twill vex thy soul to hear what I shall speak;</li>
  <li class="number">For I must talk of murders, rapes and massacres,</li>
  <li>Acts of black night, abominable deeds,</li>
  <li>Complots of mischief, treason, villanies</li>
  <li>Ruthful to hear, yet piteously perform'd:</li>
  <li>And this shall all be buried by my death,</li>
  <li class="number">Unless thou swear to me my child shall live.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LUCIUS</li>
  <li>Tell on thy mind; I say thy child shall live.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">AARON</li>
  <li>Swear that he shall, and then I will begin.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LUCIUS</li>
  <li>Who should I swear by? thou believest no god:</li>
  <li>That granted, how canst thou believe an oath?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">AARON</li>
  <li class="number">What if I do not? as, indeed, I do not;</li>
  <li>Yet, for I know thou art religious</li>
  <li>And hast a thing within thee called conscience,</li>
  <li>With twenty popish tricks and ceremonies,</li>
  <li>Which I have seen thee careful to observe,</li>
  <li class="number">Therefore I urge thy oath; for that I know</li>
  <li>An idiot holds his bauble for a god</li>
  <li>And keeps the oath which by that god he swears,</li>
  <li>To that I'll urge him: therefore thou shalt vow</li>
  <li>By that same god, what god soe'er it be,</li>
  <li class="number">That thou adorest and hast in reverence,</li>
  <li>To save my boy, to nourish and bring him up;</li>
  <li>Or else I will discover nought to thee.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LUCIUS</li>
  <li>Even by my god I swear to thee I will.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">AARON</li>
  <li>First know thou, I begot him on the empress.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LUCIUS</li>
  <li class="number">O most insatiate and luxurious woman!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">AARON</li>
  <li>Tut, Lucius, this was but a deed of charity</li>
  <li>To that which thou shalt hear of me anon.</li>
  <li>'Twas her two sons that murder'd Bassianus;</li>
  <li>They cut thy sister's tongue and ravish'd her</li>
  <li class="number">And cut her hands and trimm'd her as thou saw'st.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LUCIUS</li>
  <li>O detestable villain! call'st thou that trimming?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">AARON</li>
  <li>Why, she was wash'd and cut and trimm'd, and 'twas</li>
  <li>Trim sport for them that had the doing of it.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LUCIUS</li>
  <li>O barbarous, beastly villains, like thyself!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">AARON</li>
  <li class="number">Indeed, I was their tutor to instruct them:</li>
  <li>That codding spirit had they from their mother,</li>
  <li>As sure a card as ever won the set;</li>
  <li>That bloody mind, I think, they learn'd of me,</li>
  <li>As true a dog as ever fought at head.</li>
  <li class="number">Well, let my deeds be witness of my worth.</li>
  <li>I train'd thy brethren to that guileful hole</li>
  <li>Where the dead corpse of Bassianus lay:</li>
  <li>I wrote the letter that thy father found</li>
  <li>And hid the gold within the letter mention'd,</li>
  <li class="number">Confederate with the queen and her two sons:</li>
  <li>And what not done, that thou hast cause to rue,</li>
  <li>Wherein I had no stroke of mischief in it?</li>
  <li>I play'd the cheater for thy father's hand,</li>
  <li>And, when I had it, drew myself apart</li>
  <li class="number">And almost broke my heart with extreme laughter:</li>
  <li>I pry'd me through the crevice of a wall</li>
  <li>When, for his hand, he had his two sons' heads;</li>
  <li>Beheld his tears, and laugh'd so heartily,</li>
  <li>That both mine eyes were rainy like to his :</li>
  <li class="number">And when I told the empress of this sport,</li>
  <li>She swooned almost at my pleasing tale,</li>
  <li>And for my tidings gave me twenty kisses.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">First Goth</li>
  <li>What, canst thou say all this, and never blush?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">AARON</li>
  <li>Ay, like a black dog, as the saying is.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LUCIUS</li>
  <li class="number">Art thou not sorry for these heinous deeds?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">AARON</li>
  <li>Ay, that I had not done a thousand more.</li>
  <li>Even now I curse the day — and yet, I think,</li>
  <li>Few come within the compass of my curse —  </li>
  <li>Wherein I did not some notorious ill,</li>
  <li class="number">As kill a man, or else devise his death,</li>
  <li>Ravish a maid, or plot the way to do it,</li>
  <li>Accuse some innocent and forswear myself,</li>
  <li>Set deadly enmity between two friends,</li>
  <li>Make poor men's cattle break their necks;</li>
  <li class="number">Set fire on barns and hay-stacks in the night,</li>
  <li>And bid the owners quench them with their tears.</li>
  <li>Oft have I digg'd up dead men from their graves,</li>
  <li>And set them upright at their dear friends' doors,</li>
  <li>Even when their sorrows almost were forgot;</li>
  <li class="number">And on their skins, as on the bark of trees,</li>
  <li>Have with my knife carved in Roman letters,</li>
  <li>'Let not your sorrow die, though I am dead.'</li>
  <li>Tut, I have done a thousand dreadful things</li>
  <li>As willingly as one would kill a fly,</li>
  <li class="number">And nothing grieves me heartily indeed</li>
  <li>But that I cannot do ten thousand more.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LUCIUS</li>
  <li>Bring down the devil; for he must not die</li>
  <li>So sweet a death as hanging presently.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">AARON</li>
  <li>If there be devils, would I were a devil,</li>
  <li class="number">To live and burn in everlasting fire,</li>
  <li>So I might have your company in hell,</li>
  <li>But to torment you with my bitter tongue!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LUCIUS</li>
  <li>Sirs, stop his mouth, and let him speak no more.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Enter a Goth</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">Third Goth</li>
  <li>My lord, there is a messenger from Rome</li>
  <li class="number">Desires to be admitted to your presence.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LUCIUS</li>
  <li>Let him come near.</li>
  <li class="stage-direction">Enter AEMILIUS</li>
  <li>Welcome, AEmilius what's the news from Rome?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">AEMILIUS</li>
  <li>Lord Lucius, and you princes of the Goths,</li>
  <li>The Roman emperor greets you all by me;</li>
  <li class="number">And, for he understands you are in arms,</li>
  <li>He craves a parley at your father's house,</li>
  <li>Willing you to demand your hostages,</li>
  <li>And they shall be immediately deliver'd.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">First Goth</li>
  <li>What says our general?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LUCIUS</li>
  <li class="number">AEmilius, let the emperor give his pledges</li>
  <li>Unto my father and my uncle Marcus,</li>
  <li>And we will come. March away.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Exeunt</div>

</section>

<section class="scene">

<h3>SCENE II.  Rome. Before TITUS's house.</h3>

<div class="stage-direction">Enter TAMORA, DEMETRIUS, and CHIRON, disguised</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TAMORA</li>
  <li>Thus, in this strange and sad habiliment,</li>
  <li>I will encounter with Andronicus,</li>
  <li>And say I am Revenge, sent from below</li>
  <li>To join with him and right his heinous wrongs.</li>
  <li class="number">Knock at his study, where, they say, he keeps,</li>
  <li>To ruminate strange plots of dire revenge;</li>
  <li>Tell him Revenge is come to join with him,</li>
  <li>And work confusion on his enemies.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">They knock</div>

<div class="stage-direction">Enter TITUS, above</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>Who doth molest my contemplation?</li>
  <li class="number">Is it your trick to make me ope the door,</li>
  <li>That so my sad decrees may fly away,</li>
  <li>And all my study be to no effect?</li>
  <li>You are deceived: for what I mean to do</li>
  <li>See here in bloody lines I have set down;</li>
  <li class="number">And what is written shall be executed.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TAMORA</li>
  <li>Titus, I am come to talk with thee.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>No, not a word; how can I grace my talk,</li>
  <li>Wanting a hand to give it action?</li>
  <li>Thou hast the odds of me; therefore no more.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TAMORA</li>
  <li class="number">If thou didst know me, thou wouldest talk with me.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>I am not mad; I know thee well enough:</li>
  <li>Witness this wretched stump, witness these crimson lines;</li>
  <li>Witness these trenches made by grief and care,</li>
  <li>Witness the tiring day and heavy night;</li>
  <li class="number">Witness all sorrow, that I know thee well</li>
  <li>For our proud empress, mighty Tamora:</li>
  <li>Is not thy coming for my other hand?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TAMORA</li>
  <li>Know, thou sad man, I am not Tamora;</li>
  <li>She is thy enemy, and I thy friend:</li>
  <li class="number">I am Revenge: sent from the infernal kingdom,</li>
  <li>To ease the gnawing vulture of thy mind,</li>
  <li>By working wreakful vengeance on thy foes.</li>
  <li>Come down, and welcome me to this world's light;</li>
  <li>Confer with me of murder and of death:</li>
  <li class="number">There's not a hollow cave or lurking-place,</li>
  <li>No vast obscurity or misty vale,</li>
  <li>Where bloody murder or detested rape</li>
  <li>Can couch for fear, but I will find them out;</li>
  <li>And in their ears tell them my dreadful name,</li>
  <li class="number">Revenge, which makes the foul offender quake.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>Art thou Revenge? and art thou sent to me,</li>
  <li>To be a torment to mine enemies?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TAMORA</li>
  <li>I am; therefore come down, and welcome me.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>Do me some service, ere I come to thee.</li>
  <li class="number">Lo, by thy side where Rape and Murder stands;</li>
  <li>Now give me some surance that thou art Revenge,</li>
  <li>Stab them, or tear them on thy chariot-wheels;</li>
  <li>And then I'll come and be thy waggoner,</li>
  <li>And whirl along with thee about the globe.</li>
  <li class="number">Provide thee two proper palfreys, black as jet,</li>
  <li>To hale thy vengeful waggon swift away,</li>
  <li>And find out murderers in their guilty caves:</li>
  <li>And when thy car is loaden with their heads,</li>
  <li>I will dismount, and by the waggon-wheel</li>
  <li class="number">Trot, like a servile footman, all day long,</li>
  <li>Even from Hyperion's rising in the east</li>
  <li>Until his very downfall in the sea:</li>
  <li>And day by day I'll do this heavy task,</li>
  <li>So thou destroy Rapine and Murder there.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TAMORA</li>
  <li class="number">These are my ministers, and come with me.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>Are these thy ministers? what are they call'd?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TAMORA</li>
  <li>Rapine and Murder; therefore called so,</li>
  <li>Cause they take vengeance of such kind of men.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>Good Lord, how like the empress' sons they are!</li>
  <li class="number">And you, the empress! but we worldly men</li>
  <li>Have miserable, mad, mistaking eyes.</li>
  <li>O sweet Revenge, now do I come to thee;</li>
  <li>And, if one arm's embracement will content thee,</li>
  <li>I will embrace thee in it by and by.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Exit above</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TAMORA</li>
  <li class="number">This closing with him fits his lunacy</li>
  <li>Whate'er I forge to feed his brain-sick fits,</li>
  <li>Do you uphold and maintain in your speeches,</li>
  <li>For now he firmly takes me for Revenge;</li>
  <li>And, being credulous in this mad thought,</li>
  <li class="number">I'll make him send for Lucius his son;</li>
  <li>And, whilst I at a banquet hold him sure,</li>
  <li>I'll find some cunning practise out of hand,</li>
  <li>To scatter and disperse the giddy Goths,</li>
  <li>Or, at the least, make them his enemies.</li>
  <li class="number">See, here he comes, and I must ply my theme.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Enter TITUS below</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>Long have I been forlorn, and all for thee:</li>
  <li>Welcome, dread Fury, to my woful house:</li>
  <li>Rapine and Murder, you are welcome too.</li>
  <li>How like the empress and her sons you are!</li>
  <li class="number">Well are you fitted, had you but a Moor:</li>
  <li>Could not all hell afford you such a devil?</li>
  <li>For well I wot the empress never wags</li>
  <li>But in her company there is a Moor;</li>
  <li>And, would you represent our queen aright,</li>
  <li class="number">It were convenient you had such a devil:</li>
  <li>But welcome, as you are. What shall we do?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TAMORA</li>
  <li>What wouldst thou have us do, Andronicus?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DEMETRIUS</li>
  <li>Show me a murderer, I'll deal with him.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">CHIRON</li>
  <li>Show me a villain that hath done a rape,</li>
  <li class="number">And I am sent to be revenged on him.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TAMORA</li>
  <li>Show me a thousand that have done thee wrong,</li>
  <li>And I will be revenged on them all.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>Look round about the wicked streets of Rome;</li>
  <li>And when thou find'st a man that's like thyself.</li>
  <li class="number">Good Murder, stab him; he's a murderer.</li>
  <li>Go thou with him; and when it is thy hap</li>
  <li>To find another that is like to thee,</li>
  <li>Good Rapine, stab him; he's a ravisher.</li>
  <li>Go thou with them; and in the emperor's court</li>
  <li class="number">There is a queen, attended by a Moor;</li>
  <li>Well mayst thou know her by thy own proportion,</li>
  <li>for up and down she doth resemble thee:</li>
  <li>I pray thee, do on them some violent death;</li>
  <li>They have been violent to me and mine.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TAMORA</li>
  <li class="number">Well hast thou lesson'd us; this shall we do.</li>
  <li>But would it please thee, good Andronicus,</li>
  <li>To send for Lucius, thy thrice-valiant son,</li>
  <li>Who leads towards Rome a band of warlike Goths,</li>
  <li>And bid him come and banquet at thy house;</li>
  <li class="number">When he is here, even at thy solemn feast,</li>
  <li>I will bring in the empress and her sons,</li>
  <li>The emperor himself and all thy foes;</li>
  <li>And at thy mercy shalt they stoop and kneel,</li>
  <li>And on them shalt thou ease thy angry heart.</li>
  <li class="number">What says Andronicus to this device?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>Marcus, my brother! 'tis sad Titus calls.</li>
  <li class="stage-direction">Enter MARCUS</li>
  <li>Go, gentle Marcus, to thy nephew Lucius;</li>
  <li>Thou shalt inquire him out among the Goths:</li>
  <li>Bid him repair to me, and bring with him</li>
  <li class="number">Some of the chiefest princes of the Goths;</li>
  <li>Bid him encamp his soldiers where they are:</li>
  <li>Tell him the emperor and the empress too</li>
  <li>Feast at my house, and he shall feast with them.</li>
  <li>This do thou for my love; and so let him,</li>
  <li class="number">As he regards his aged father's life.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MARCUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>This will I do, and soon return again.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Exit</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TAMORA</li>
  <li>Now will I hence about thy business,</li>
  <li>And take my ministers along with me.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>Nay, nay, let Rape and Murder stay with me;</li>
  <li class="number">Or else I'll call my brother back again,</li>
  <li>And cleave to no revenge but Lucius.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TAMORA</li>
  <li>Aside to her sons  What say you, boys? will you</li>
  <li>bide with him,</li>
  <li>Whiles I go tell my lord the emperor</li>
  <li class="number">How I have govern'd our determined jest?</li>
  <li>Yield to his humour, smooth and speak him fair,</li>
  <li>And tarry with him till I turn again.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>Aside  I know them all, though they suppose me mad,</li>
  <li>And will o'erreach them in their own devices:</li>
  <li class="number">A pair of cursed hell-hounds and their dam!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DEMETRIUS</li>
  <li>Madam, depart at pleasure; leave us here.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TAMORA</li>
  <li>Farewell, Andronicus: Revenge now goes</li>
  <li>To lay a complot to betray thy foes.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>I know thou dost; and, sweet Revenge, farewell.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Exit TAMORA</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">CHIRON</li>
  <li class="number">Tell us, old man, how shall we be employ'd?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>Tut, I have work enough for you to do.</li>
  <li>Publius, come hither, Caius, and Valentine!</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Enter PUBLIUS and others</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">PUBLIUS</li>
  <li>What is your will?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>Know you these two?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">PUBLIUS</li>
  <li class="number">The empress' sons, I take them, Chiron and Demetrius.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>Fie, Publius, fie! thou art too much deceived;</li>
  <li>The one is Murder, Rape is the other's name;</li>
  <li>And therefore bind them, gentle Publius.</li>
  <li>Caius and Valentine, lay hands on them.</li>
  <li class="number">Oft have you heard me wish for such an hour,</li>
  <li>And now I find it; therefore bind them sure,</li>
  <li>And stop their mouths, if they begin to cry.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Exit</div>

<div class="stage-direction">PUBLIUS, &c. lay hold on CHIRON and DEMETRIUS</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">CHIRON</li>
  <li>Villains, forbear! we are the empress' sons.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">PUBLIUS</li>
  <li>And therefore do we what we are commanded.</li>
  <li class="number">Stop close their mouths, let them not speak a word.</li>
  <li>Is he sure bound? look that you bind them fast.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Re-enter TITUS, with LAVINIA; he bearing a knife,
and she a basin</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>Come, come, Lavinia; look, thy foes are bound.</li>
  <li>Sirs, stop their mouths, let them not speak to me;</li>
  <li>But let them hear what fearful words I utter.</li>
  <li class="number">O villains, Chiron and Demetrius!</li>
  <li>Here stands the spring whom you have stain'd with mud,</li>
  <li>This goodly summer with your winter mix'd.</li>
  <li>You kill'd her husband, and for that vile fault</li>
  <li>Two of her brothers were condemn'd to death,</li>
  <li class="number">My hand cut off and made a merry jest;</li>
  <li>Both her sweet hands, her tongue, and that more dear</li>
  <li>Than hands or tongue, her spotless chastity,</li>
  <li>Inhuman traitors, you constrain'd and forced.</li>
  <li>What would you say, if I should let you speak?</li>
  <li class="number">Villains, for shame you could not beg for grace.</li>
  <li>Hark, wretches! how I mean to martyr you.</li>
  <li>This one hand yet is left to cut your throats,</li>
  <li>Whilst that Lavinia 'tween her stumps doth hold</li>
  <li>The basin that receives your guilty blood.</li>
  <li class="number">You know your mother means to feast with me,</li>
  <li>And calls herself Revenge, and thinks me mad:</li>
  <li>Hark, villains! I will grind your bones to dust</li>
  <li>And with your blood and it I'll make a paste,</li>
  <li>And of the paste a coffin I will rear</li>
  <li class="number">And make two pasties of your shameful heads,</li>
  <li>And bid that strumpet, your unhallow'd dam,</li>
  <li>Like to the earth swallow her own increase.</li>
  <li>This is the feast that I have bid her to,</li>
  <li>And this the banquet she shall surfeit on;</li>
  <li class="number">For worse than Philomel you used my daughter,</li>
  <li>And worse than Progne I will be revenged:</li>
  <li>And now prepare your throats. Lavinia, come,</li>
  <li class="stage-direction">He cuts their throats</li>
  <li>Receive the blood: and when that they are dead,</li>
  <li>Let me go grind their bones to powder small</li>
  <li class="number">And with this hateful liquor temper it;</li>
  <li>And in that paste let their vile heads be baked.</li>
  <li>Come, come, be every one officious</li>
  <li>To make this banquet; which I wish may prove</li>
  <li>More stern and bloody than the Centaurs' feast.</li>
  <li class="number">So, now bring them in, for I'll play the cook,</li>
  <li>And see them ready 'gainst their mother comes.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Exeunt, bearing the dead bodies</div>

</section>

<section class="scene">

<h3>SCENE III.  Court of TITUS's house. A banquet set out.</h3>

<div class="stage-direction">Enter LUCIUS, MARCUS, and Goths, with AARON prisoner</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LUCIUS</li>
  <li>Uncle Marcus, since it is my father's mind</li>
  <li>That I repair to Rome, I am content.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">First Goth</li>
  <li>And ours with thine, befall what fortune will.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LUCIUS</li>
  <li>Good uncle, take you in this barbarous Moor,</li>
  <li class="number">This ravenous tiger, this accursed devil;</li>
  <li>Let him receive no sustenance, fetter him</li>
  <li>Till he be brought unto the empress' face,</li>
  <li>For testimony of her foul proceedings:</li>
  <li>And see the ambush of our friends be strong;</li>
  <li class="number">I fear the emperor means no good to us.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">AARON</li>
  <li>Some devil whisper curses in mine ear,</li>
  <li>And prompt me, that my tongue may utter forth</li>
  <li>The venomous malice of my swelling heart!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LUCIUS</li>
  <li>Away, inhuman dog! unhallow'd slave!</li>
  <li class="number">Sirs, help our uncle to convey him in.</li>
  <li class="stage-direction">Exeunt Goths, with AARON. Flourish within</li>
  <li>The trumpets show the emperor is at hand.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Enter SATURNINUS and TAMORA, with AEMILIUS,
Tribunes, Senators, and others</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">SATURNINUS</li>
  <li>What, hath the firmament more suns than one?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LUCIUS</li>
  <li>What boots it thee to call thyself a sun?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MARCUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>Rome's emperor, and nephew, break the parle;</li>
  <li class="number">These quarrels must be quietly debated.</li>
  <li>The feast is ready, which the careful Titus</li>
  <li>Hath ordain'd to an honourable end,</li>
  <li>For peace, for love, for league, and good to Rome:</li>
  <li>Please you, therefore, draw nigh, and take your places.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">SATURNINUS</li>
  <li class="number">Marcus, we will.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Hautboys sound. The Company sit down at table</div>

<div class="stage-direction">Enter TITUS dressed like a Cook, LAVINIA veiled,
Young LUCIUS, and others. TITUS places the dishes
on the table</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>Welcome, my gracious lord; welcome, dread queen;</li>
  <li>Welcome, ye warlike Goths; welcome, Lucius;</li>
  <li>And welcome, all: although the cheer be poor,</li>
  <li>'Twill fill your stomachs; please you eat of it.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">SATURNINUS</li>
  <li class="number">Why art thou thus attired, Andronicus?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>Because I would be sure to have all well,</li>
  <li>To entertain your highness and your empress.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TAMORA</li>
  <li>We are beholding to you, good Andronicus.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>An if your highness knew my heart, you were.</li>
  <li class="number">My lord the emperor, resolve me this:</li>
  <li>Was it well done of rash Virginius</li>
  <li>To slay his daughter with his own right hand,</li>
  <li>Because she was enforced, stain'd, and deflower'd?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">SATURNINUS</li>
  <li>It was, Andronicus.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li class="number">Your reason, mighty lord?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">SATURNINUS</li>
  <li>Because the girl should not survive her shame,</li>
  <li>And by her presence still renew his sorrows.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>A reason mighty, strong, and effectual;</li>
  <li>A pattern, precedent, and lively warrant,</li>
  <li class="number">For me, most wretched, to perform the like.</li>
  <li>Die, die, Lavinia, and thy shame with thee;</li>
  <li class="stage-direction">Kills LAVINIA</li>
  <li>And, with thy shame, thy father's sorrow die!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">SATURNINUS</li>
  <li>What hast thou done, unnatural and unkind?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>Kill'd her, for whom my tears have made me blind.</li>
  <li class="number">I am as woful as Virginius was,</li>
  <li>And have a thousand times more cause than he</li>
  <li>To do this outrage: and it now is done.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">SATURNINUS</li>
  <li>What, was she ravish'd? tell who did the deed.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>Will't please you eat? will't please your</li>
  <li class="number">highness feed?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TAMORA</li>
  <li>Why hast thou slain thine only daughter thus?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>Not I; 'twas Chiron and Demetrius:</li>
  <li>They ravish'd her, and cut away her tongue;</li>
  <li>And they, 'twas they, that did her all this wrong.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">SATURNINUS</li>
  <li class="number">Go fetch them hither to us presently.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">TITUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>Why, there they are both, baked in that pie;</li>
  <li>Whereof their mother daintily hath fed,</li>
  <li>Eating the flesh that she herself hath bred.</li>
  <li>'Tis true, 'tis true; witness my knife's sharp point.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Kills TAMORA</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">SATURNINUS</li>
  <li class="number">Die, frantic wretch, for this accursed deed!</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Kills TITUS</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LUCIUS</li>
  <li>Can the son's eye behold his father bleed?</li>
  <li>There's meed for meed, death for a deadly deed!</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Kills SATURNINUS. A great tumult. LUCIUS, MARCUS,
and others go up into the balcony</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MARCUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>You sad-faced men, people and sons of Rome,</li>
  <li>By uproar sever'd, like a flight of fowl</li>
  <li class="number">Scatter'd by winds and high tempestuous gusts,</li>
  <li>O, let me teach you how to knit again</li>
  <li>This scatter'd corn into one mutual sheaf,</li>
  <li>These broken limbs again into one body;</li>
  <li>Lest Rome herself be bane unto herself,</li>
  <li class="number">And she whom mighty kingdoms court'sy to,</li>
  <li>Like a forlorn and desperate castaway,</li>
  <li>Do shameful execution on herself.</li>
  <li>But if my frosty signs and chaps of age,</li>
  <li>Grave witnesses of true experience,</li>
  <li class="number">Cannot induce you to attend my words,</li>
  <li class="stage-direction">To LUCIUS</li>
  <li>Speak, Rome's dear friend, as erst our ancestor,</li>
  <li>When with his solemn tongue he did discourse</li>
  <li>To love-sick Dido's sad attending ear</li>
  <li>The story of that baleful burning night</li>
  <li class="number">When subtle Greeks surprised King Priam's Troy,</li>
  <li>Tell us what Sinon hath bewitch'd our ears,</li>
  <li>Or who hath brought the fatal engine in</li>
  <li>That gives our Troy, our Rome, the civil wound.</li>
  <li>My heart is not compact of flint nor steel;</li>
  <li class="number">Nor can I utter all our bitter grief,</li>
  <li>But floods of tears will drown my oratory,</li>
  <li>And break my utterance, even in the time</li>
  <li>When it should move you to attend me most,</li>
  <li>Lending your kind commiseration.</li>
  <li class="number">Here is a captain, let him tell the tale;</li>
  <li>Your hearts will throb and weep to hear him speak.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LUCIUS</li>
  <li>Then, noble auditory, be it known to you,</li>
  <li>That cursed Chiron and Demetrius</li>
  <li>Were they that murdered our emperor's brother;</li>
  <li class="number">And they it were that ravished our sister:</li>
  <li>For their fell faults our brothers were beheaded;</li>
  <li>Our father's tears despised, and basely cozen'd</li>
  <li>Of that true hand that fought Rome's quarrel out,</li>
  <li>And sent her enemies unto the grave.</li>
  <li class="number">Lastly, myself unkindly banished,</li>
  <li>The gates shut on me, and turn'd weeping out,</li>
  <li>To beg relief among Rome's enemies:</li>
  <li>Who drown'd their enmity in my true tears.</li>
  <li>And oped their arms to embrace me as a friend.</li>
  <li class="number">I am the turned forth, be it known to you,</li>
  <li>That have preserved her welfare in my blood;</li>
  <li>And from her bosom took the enemy's point,</li>
  <li>Sheathing the steel in my adventurous body.</li>
  <li>Alas, you know I am no vaunter, I;</li>
  <li class="number">My scars can witness, dumb although they are,</li>
  <li>That my report is just and full of truth.</li>
  <li>But, soft! methinks I do digress too much,</li>
  <li>Citing my worthless praise: O, pardon me;</li>
  <li>For when no friends are by, men praise themselves.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MARCUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li class="number">Now is my turn to speak. Behold this child:</li>
  <li class="stage-direction">Pointing to the Child in the arms of an Attendant</li>
  <li>Of this was Tamora delivered;</li>
  <li>The issue of an irreligious Moor,</li>
  <li>Chief architect and plotter of these woes:</li>
  <li>The villain is alive in Titus' house,</li>
  <li class="number">And as he is, to witness this is true.</li>
  <li>Now judge what cause had Titus to revenge</li>
  <li>These wrongs, unspeakable, past patience,</li>
  <li>Or more than any living man could bear.</li>
  <li>Now you have heard the truth, what say you, Romans?</li>
  <li class="number">Have we done aught amiss —  show us wherein,</li>
  <li>And, from the place where you behold us now,</li>
  <li>The poor remainder of Andronici</li>
  <li>Will, hand in hand, all headlong cast us down.</li>
  <li>And on the ragged stones beat forth our brains,</li>
  <li class="number">And make a mutual closure of our house.</li>
  <li>Speak, Romans, speak; and if you say we shall,</li>
  <li>Lo, hand in hand, Lucius and I will fall.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">AEMILIUS</li>
  <li>Come, come, thou reverend man of Rome,</li>
  <li>And bring our emperor gently in thy hand,</li>
  <li class="number">Lucius our emperor; for well I know</li>
  <li>The common voice do cry it shall be so.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">All</li>
  <li>Lucius, all hail, Rome's royal emperor!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MARCUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>Go, go into old Titus' sorrowful house,</li>
  <li class="stage-direction">To Attendants</li>
  <li>And hither hale that misbelieving Moor,</li>
  <li class="number">To be adjudged some direful slaughtering death,</li>
  <li>As punishment for his most wicked life.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Exeunt Attendants</div>

<div class="stage-direction">LUCIUS, MARCUS, and the others descend</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">All</li>
  <li>Lucius, all hail, Rome's gracious governor!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LUCIUS</li>
  <li>Thanks, gentle Romans: may I govern so,</li>
  <li>To heal Rome's harms, and wipe away her woe!</li>
  <li class="number">But, gentle people, give me aim awhile,</li>
  <li>For nature puts me to a heavy task:</li>
  <li>Stand all aloof: but, uncle, draw you near,</li>
  <li>To shed obsequious tears upon this trunk.</li>
  <li>O, take this warm kiss on thy pale cold lips,</li>
  <li class="stage-direction">Kissing TITUS</li>
  <li class="number">These sorrowful drops upon thy blood-stain'd face,</li>
  <li>The last true duties of thy noble son!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">MARCUS ANDRONICUS</li>
  <li>Tear for tear, and loving kiss for kiss,</li>
  <li>Thy brother Marcus tenders on thy lips:</li>
  <li>O were the sum of these that I should pay</li>
  <li class="number">Countless and infinite, yet would I pay them!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LUCIUS</li>
  <li>Come hither, boy; come, come, and learn of us</li>
  <li>To melt in showers: thy grandsire loved thee well:</li>
  <li>Many a time he danced thee on his knee,</li>
  <li>Sung thee asleep, his loving breast thy pillow:</li>
  <li class="number">Many a matter hath he told to thee,</li>
  <li>Meet and agreeing with thine infancy;</li>
  <li>In that respect, then, like a loving child,</li>
  <li>Shed yet some small drops from thy tender spring,</li>
  <li>Because kind nature doth require it so:</li>
  <li class="number">Friends should associate friends in grief and woe:</li>
  <li>Bid him farewell; commit him to the grave;</li>
  <li>Do him that kindness, and take leave of him.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">Young LUCIUS</li>
  <li>O grandsire, grandsire! even with all my heart</li>
  <li>Would I were dead, so you did live again!</li>
  <li class="number">O Lord, I cannot speak to him for weeping;</li>
  <li>My tears will choke me, if I ope my mouth.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Re-enter Attendants with AARON</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">AEMILIUS</li>
  <li>You sad Andronici, have done with woes:</li>
  <li>Give sentence on this execrable wretch,</li>
  <li>That hath been breeder of these dire events.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LUCIUS</li>
  <li class="number">Set him breast-deep in earth, and famish him;</li>
  <li>There let him stand, and rave, and cry for food;</li>
  <li>If any one relieves or pities him,</li>
  <li>For the offence he dies. This is our doom:</li>
  <li>Some stay to see him fasten'd in the earth.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">AARON</li>
  <li class="number">O, why should wrath be mute, and fury dumb?</li>
  <li>I am no baby, I, that with base prayers</li>
  <li>I should repent the evils I have done:</li>
  <li>Ten thousand worse than ever yet I did</li>
  <li>Would I perform, if I might have my will;</li>
  <li class="number">If one good deed in all my life I did,</li>
  <li>I do repent it from my very soul.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LUCIUS</li>
  <li>Some loving friends convey the emperor hence,</li>
  <li>And give him burial in his father's grave:</li>
  <li>My father and Lavinia shall forthwith</li>
  <li class="number">Be closed in our household's monument.</li>
  <li>As for that heinous tiger, Tamora,</li>
  <li>No funeral rite, nor man m mourning weeds,</li>
  <li>No mournful bell shall ring her burial;</li>
  <li>But throw her forth to beasts and birds of prey:</li>
  <li class="number">Her life was beast-like, and devoid of pity;</li>
  <li>And, being so, shall have like want of pity.</li>
  <li>See justice done on Aaron, that damn'd Moor,</li>
  <li>By whom our heavy haps had their beginning:</li>
  <li>Then, afterwards, to order well the state,</li>
  <li class="number">That like events may ne'er it ruinate.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Exeunt</div>

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